CARYOPHYLLACEAE - Pink Family
Herbs with swollen nodes
Leaves opposite, connected at
base with transverse line, simple, entire, usually narrow
Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic
in cymes or solitary
Placentation free central
Fruit a dry capsule opening by valves or teeth
Seed with embryo curved around perisperm
Do not produce betalains
75 genera, 2000 species
The Carophyllaceae is divided into three subfamilies on the basis
of the presence/absence of stipules and perianth characters.
Economic importance - ornamentals, weeds, carnation
Medicinal uses - Silene root tea may have been used for
worms but is toxic and may have been mistaken for Spigelia, a
member of the Loganiaceae that was used to treat worms, which is also
toxic.
Diagnostic characteristics - swollen nodes, opposite leaves with
transverse line
IMAGE GALLERY
FLOWERING
PLANT GATEWAY