Caryophyllaceae
Pink Family
The Caryophyllaceae family (Pink Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Caryophyllales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 11 species across 7 genera. Its members are predominantly herbs. Well-represented genera include Dianthus, Polycarpaea and Arenaria. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Thyme-Leaved Sandwort, Sticky Mouse-Ear Chickweed and Sweet-William.
Browse all 11 species ↓
Opposite leaves on herbs with characteristically swollen stem nodes; regular flowers have petals often notched or deeply cleft at the tip, sitting above an unusual free-central placentation where seeds attach to a column rising from the ovary's base rather than to its walls.
The swollen, knee-like nodes and notched petals are reliable field marks across the family, which includes both garden pinks and carnations and common lawn weeds like chickweed.
Which Caryophyllaceae species is this?
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Typical leaf characters
- ArrangementVariable
- TypeVariable
- MarginVariable
- VenationVariable
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryVariable
- InflorescenceCyme
- FruitVariable
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
All 11 species in CARYOPHYLLACEAE
- Thyme-Leaved SandwortArenaria serpyllifolia
- Sticky Mouse-Ear ChickweedCerastium glomeratum
- Sweet-WilliamDianthus barbatus
- Clove PinkDianthus caryophyllus
- Chinese-PinkDianthus chinensis
- Garden PinkDianthus plumarius
- PipiliDrymaria diandra
- Golden-Tip Rock-GrassPolycarpaea aurea
- Oldman’S CapPolycarpaea corymbosa
- Prostrate ManyseedPolycarpon prostratum
- Common ChickweedStellaria media
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