Caryophyllaceae
Alternative names: Not Applicable
Description:
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs; stems usually thickened at the nodes; leaves usually opposite or apparently whorled, or rarely the upper ones alternate, simple, entire, with or without scarious stipules, pairs of leaves usually united by a short sheath.
Flowers bisexual, regular; perianth usually composed of a calyx and a corolla, rarely single and sepaloid; calyx 4- or 5-lobed or divided to the base into 4 or 5 sepals, the sepals imbricate; petals 4 or 5, rarely 0, imbricate; stamens or the same number as the petals or twice as many, rarely fewer; ovary superior, 1-celled, with many campylotropous ovules inserted on funicles arising from the base of the ovary and free or consolidated into a central column; styles 2-5, free or united towards the base, usually stigmatic along the inner side.
Fruit a 1-celled usually membranous capsule, opening at the summit by teeth or valves or indehiscent; seeds 1-many, usually reniform or subglobular, often granular or tuberculate; embryo usually curved.
Distribution:
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About 80 genera and 2,000 species, widespread but mainly in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere; rare in the tropics.
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Biology:
No text
Key to Genera:
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1. Sepals fused for about half their length or more; stipules absent |
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2. Fruit membranous, dehiscent; seed 1 |
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SCLERANTHUS 15. |
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2. Fruit a valved capsule; seeds several |
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4. Calyx without bracteoles at the base |
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5. Leaves oblong-lanceolate to ovate |
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VACCARIA 20. |
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GYPSOPHILA 5. |
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4. Calyx with bracteoles at the base |
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PETRORHAGIA 11. |
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6. Styles 3; capsule 6-toothed |
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SILENE 16. |
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6. Styles 5; capsule 5-toothed |
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AGROSTEMMA 1. |
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LYCHNIS 7. |
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1. Sepals free or almost so; stipules present or absent |
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9. Fruit a membranous nutlet; seed 1 |
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10. Annual; stipules half as long as the leaves |
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PARONYCHIA 10. |
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10. Perennial; stipules minute |
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HERNIARIA 6. |
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9. Fruit a valved capsule; seeds several |
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11. Leaves obovate to spathulate |
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POLYCARPON 13. |
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11. Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate |
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12. Styles 5, free; capsule 5-valved |
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SPERGULA 17. |
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12. Styles 3, free or fused; capsule 3-valved |
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13. Sepals white-silvery (very conspicuous) |
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POLYCARPAEA 12. |
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13. Sepals green, with scarious margins |
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SPERGULARIA 18. |
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14. Capsule valves or teeth 3-5, same as the number of styles |
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15. Styles and capsule valves 5; leaves to 3 cm long, in basal tufts |
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COLOBANTHUS 4. |
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15. Styles and capsule valves 3 or 4; leaves to 12 mm long, cauline |
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16. Styles and capsule valves 3 |
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MINUARTIA 8. |
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16. Styles and capsule valves 4 |
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SAGINA 14. |
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14. Capsule valves 6-10, more than (usually twice as many as) the styles |
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17. Styles 3; capsule valves 6 |
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ARENARIA 2. |
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STELLARIA 19. |
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17. Styles 4 or 5; capsule teeth or valves 8 or 10 |
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19. Glabrous; styles 4; capsule teeth 8 |
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MOENCHIA 9. |
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19. Hairy; styles 5; capsule valves 10 |
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CERASTIUM 3. |
Author:
Prepared by K. Chorney
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