The Caryophyllidae
Family Overview - The Caryophyllales
Caryophyllaceae - the Pink Family
Diversity:  A large (75 genera, ca. 2,000 species), but distinctive family of often Spring-blooming  herbs that tend to produce fairly large, showy flowers.  The ethnoflora includes those selected as ornamentals, such as the Carnation (Dianthus) and taxa specialized to occupy human-mediated disturbance (weeds), such as Stellaria media.

Distribution:  Found throughout the World - cosmopolitan - but centered in north-temperate areas.  Texas with 15 genera and 56 species (some endemic).

Floral structure:

 

Significant features:  All taxa of the Caryophyllaceae show a distinctive 'subset' vegetative feature; opposite leaves.  In addition, the nodes are often swollen or expanded and petiole bases are often collected across the node by a transverse, stipulate line.  Apetaly and imperfect flowers are rare and most taxa show a full (both calyx and corolla present and distnct) pentamerous (5-parted) perianth with no connation.  The petals can be bifid (two deep lobes) or often with a regular, lacerate (cut) margin (appear to be cut with pinking shears or 'pinked'.  The uniloculate ovary, marked by free central placentation, matures to form a denticidal (dehiscing by terminal valves) capsule.

   Cerastrium glomeratum - 'mouse-ear chickweed' showing bifid petals and denticidal capsule
 
 

    Dianthus sylvestris - 'pinked' petals of a 'wild' carnation (sylvestris = wild, not domesticated)
 

   Cerastium arvense - bifid petals, 10 stamens, hypogynous with 5 styles emerging from the top of the superior ovary

 
 
 

More information on the Caryophyllaceae

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