Genus of flowering plants
Saponaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled and usually in shades of pink or white. The genus is closely related to the genus "Silene", being distinguished from these by having only two (not three or five) styles in the flower. It is also related to "Gypsophila", but its calyx is cylindrical rather than bell-shaped.
The most familiar species might be common soapwort ("S. officinalis"), which is native to Eurasia but is known in much of the world as an introduced species, often a weed, and sometimes a cultivated ornamental plant. The genus name "Saponaria" derives from the Latin "sapo" ("soap") and -"aria" ("pertaining to"), and at least one species, "S. officinalis", has been used to make soap. It contains saponins, and a liquid soap can be produced by soaking the leaves in water. This soap is still used to clean delicate antique tapestries. It is also sometimes stated that it is used as an emulsifier in Turkish delight confections, but this is a case of double confusion. The roots of plants in genus "Gypsophila" are used to make the Turkish confection helva and "Saponaria" species are not used.
"Saponaria" species are eaten by the larvae of some butterflies and moths, including the Lychnis and "Coleophora saponariella", which is exclusive to the genus.
Diversity.
There are thirty to forty species in the genus.
Plants of the World Online accepts 39 species:
References.
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