The scientific name for the Pink Family, Caryophyllaceae, is derived from a Greek word that means "carnation", the showiest member of the family. It's a moderately large family of about 2000 species and 80 genera, found mostly throughout the north temperate zone, especially in northern Mediterranean countries, although it's also well represented in our Northwest. Typically, the plants in the pink family have narrow, opposed leaves that originate from swollen nodes along the stem. Ornamental plants and cut flowers, especially species of Dianthus (carnations, sweet william, etc.), have considerable economic importance. The flowers of the Pink family have 5 sepals, free from one another or united into a calyx, petals are usually 5, each often with a slender portion at base and fringed or toothed at the ends. Stamens are 5 or 10 and pistils are 1 to 5. All these parts are attached at the base of the ovary. The flowers are blooming singly or in a branched or forked cluster. Leaves are opposite, simple, widely lance-shaped to very narrow, thread-like. The fruit is usually a capsule.
Guide to Identify Presented Species of the Pink Family
PETALS LARGE, SHOWY. SEPALS JOINED
Saponaria officinalis – Soapwort 40-90 cm tall, hairless, very leafy, in colonies. Roadsides, disturbed areas.
Flowers white to pink, 2-3 cm wide, fragrant, with 5 broad, petals, often double.
Leaves opposite, mostly lanceolate, 4-10 cm long, as many as 20 pairs.
Silene – Campion Low to tall, hairy to hairless plants, often with male or female flowers.
Flowers mostly white, 1-2 cm long, with deeply divided, often curled petals.
Leaves are opposite, linear to broadly lance-shaped, hairy to hairless.
PETALS DEEPLY SPLIT. SEPALS SEPARATE
Cerastium – Chickweed Glandular-hairy, often tufted plants, on dry to moist, open or shaded sites.
Flowers white, the 5 petals deeply notched and 2-3 times as long as sepals.
Leaves opposite, lanceolate to elliptic, entire, short-hairy, often glandular.
Stellaria – Starwort Slender, mostly hairless herbs with simple stems, growing in moist habitats.
Flowers white, about 1 cm wide, the 5 petals often split almost to the base.
Leaves opposite, entire, ovate or lance-shaped to linear, mostly pointed.
PETALS NOT DIVIDED, LONGER THAN SEPALS. SEPALS SEPARATE
Arenaria – Sandwort Slender herbs, mostly over 10 cm tall, growing on dry or sandy ground.
Flowers small, white, about 5-10 mm broad. The 5 petals entire, often narrow.
Leaves short, opposite, linear to egg-shaped, entire, stalkless.
Minuartia – Sandwort Often mat-forming herbs, less than 10 cm tall, on dry or sandy ground.
Flowers small, white, about 5-10 mm broad. The 5 petals entire, often narrow.
Leaves short, opposite, mostly linear and needle-shaped, entire, stalkless.
PETALS SHORTER THAN SEPALS OR ABSENT
Stellaria – Starwort Slender, mostly hairless herbs with simple stems, growing in moist habitats.
Flowers white, about 1 cm wide, the 5 petals often split almost to the base.
Leaves opposite, entire, ovate or lance-shaped to linear, mostly pointed.
Alphabetical listing with links to presented species of the Pink family:
