Family · Other eudicots
Caryophyllaceae
Carnations, pinks, chickweed
Herbs with swollen nodes and often notched petals; includes carnations, campions and chickweeds.
- Accepted species
- 3,403accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 105accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈59 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Asia-Temperatemost native species · WGSRPD
Open Caryophyllaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Dianthus (carnation)
- Silene (campion)
- Stellaria (chickweed)
Largest genera
Silene898 spp.
Dianthus392 spp.
Cerastium226 spp.
Stellaria196 spp.
Arenaria179 spp.
Gypsophila151 spp.
Paronychia122 spp.
Eremogone103 spp.
Acanthophyllum82 spp.
Polycarpaea82 spp.
Sabulina78 spp.
Spergularia69 spp.
Minuartia67 spp.
Odontostemma61 spp.
Drymaria58 spp.
Herniaria56 spp.
Saponaria41 spp.
Sagina39 spp.
Bufonia38 spp.
Schiedea37 spp.
Moehringia31 spp.
Petrorhagia29 spp.
Pseudostellaria28 spp.
Colobanthus24 spp.
Cherleria19 spp.
Jordania14 spp.
Pycnophyllum14 spp.
Scleranthus13 spp.
Corrigiola12 spp.
Mesostemma11 spp.
Petrocoptis11 spp.
Bolanthus10 spp.
Gymnocarpos10 spp.
Heliosperma10 spp.
Pseudocherleria10 spp.
Shivparvatia10 spp.
Spergula10 spp.
Atocion7 spp.
Cardionema7 spp.
Dichodon7 spp.
Facchinia7 spp.
Geocarpon7 spp.
Mcneillia7 spp.
Minuartiella7 spp.
Heterochroa6 spp.
Holosteum6 spp.
Schizotechium6 spp.
Telephium5 spp.
Augustea4 spp.
Moenchia4 spp.
Viscaria4 spp.
Eudianthe3 spp.
Lepyrodiclis3 spp.
Loeflingia3 spp.
Microphyes3 spp.
Nubelaria3 spp.
Adenonema2 spp.
Agrostemma2 spp.
Brachystemma2 spp.
Cometes2 spp.
The 45 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Asia-Temperate1,815
- Europe980
- Africa437
- Asia-Tropical298
- Northern America287
- Southern America283
- Australasia61
- Pacific40
- Antarctic12
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Caryophyllaceae sits in the order Caryophyllales.
- AmaranthaceaeAmaranth, beet, spinach, quinoa2,420
- CactaceaeCacti2,033
- AizoaceaeIce plants, living stones1,815
- PolygonaceaeBuckwheat, rhubarb, knotweed1,638
- PlumbaginaceaeSea lavender, leadwort1,141
- NyctaginaceaeBougainvillea, four o'clocks465
- DroseraceaeSundews, Venus flytrap277
- MontiaceaeMiner's lettuce271
- NepenthaceaeTropical pitcher plants218
- PortulacaceaePurslanes154
- TamaricaceaeTamarisks113
- MolluginaceaeCarpetweeds99
- FrankeniaceaeSea heaths86
- Anacampserotaceae61
- PhytolaccaceaePokeweeds34
- TalinaceaeFameflowers29
- Limeaceae25
- Petiveriaceae22
- Ancistrocladaceae20
- DidiereaceaeMadagascar ocotillo20
- BasellaceaeMalabar spinach19
- Microteaceae10
- Achatocarpaceae10
- Macarthuriaceae9