Dear members Focus of this monthly week from December 3 to 9, 2012 is family Caryophyllaceae. A family primarily distributed in temperate regions, but with several ornamentals in both Temperate and tropical climates. Here are some details.
*Caryophyllaceae A. L. de Jussieu Pink family* 93 genera, 2,395 species Distributed mainly in all temperate parts of the world. . Major genera: Silene (700 species), Dianthusn(300), Arenaria (200), Gypsophila (150), Minuartia (150), Stellaria (150) and Cerastium (100). Description: Annual or perennial herbs with swollen nodes, anthocyanins present. Leaves opposite, simple, bases of opposite leaves often connected, stipules absent or scarious (Paronychia), secondary veins often obscure.Inflorescence typically a dichasial cyme, rarely solitary flowers. Flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual (Lychnis alba), actinomorphic, hypogynous. Calyx with 5 sepals, free (Stellaria) or connate (Dianthus, Silene). Corolla with 5 petals, usually differentiated into a distinct claw and a limb, with an appendaged joint between the two, often notched or deeply bilobed at tip. Androecium with 10 or lesser number of stamens, obdiplostemonous, free, anthers bithecous, dehiscence longitudinal, pollen grains tricolpate to polyporate. Gynoecium with 2-5 (2 Dianthus, 3 Silene, 4 Sagina, 3-5 Stellaria) united carpels (syncarpous), unilocular with many ovules, placentation free central, ovary Major Families of Angiosperms 537 superior, styles 2-5. Fruit a loculicidal capsule opening by valves or teeth, rarely a utricle (Paronychia). Seeds many, ornamented on surface, embryo curved, endosperm absent, often replaced by perisperm. Economic importance: The family is represented by several ornamentals such as carnation, pinks, sweet william (different species of Dianthus), baby’s breath (Gypsophila) and corn cockle (Agrostemma).Species of Arenaria, Cerastium and Stellaria are troublesome weeds. Members uploading photographs for ID should provide photographs of side view of flower, top view of lower, shape of leaves and fruits to help in identification. The List of Genera (From Plant List) - *Acanthophyllum*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Acanthophyllum/> - *Achyronychia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Achyronychia/> - *Agrostemma*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Agrostemma/> - *Allochrusa*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Allochrusa/> - *Alsinidendron*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Alsinidendron/> - *Ammodenia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Ammodenia/> - *Ankyropetalum*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Ankyropetalum/> - *Anychia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Anychia/> - *Arenaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Arenaria/> - *Bolanthus*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Bolanthus/> - *Bolbosaponaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Bolbosaponaria/> - *Brachystemma*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Brachystemma/> - *Bufonia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Bufonia/> - *Cardionema*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Cardionema/> - *Cerastium*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Cerastium/> - *Cerdia* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Cerdia/> - *Chaetonychia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Chaetonychia/> - *Colobanthus*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Colobanthus/> - *Cometes*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Cometes/> - *Dianthus*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Dianthus/> - *Diaphanoptera*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Diaphanoptera/> - *Dicheranthus*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Dicheranthus/> - *Drymaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Drymaria/> - *Drypis* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Drypis/> - *Eremogone*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Eremogone/> - *Gastrocalyx*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Gastrocalyx/> - *Gastrolychnis*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Gastrolychnis/> - *Geocarpon*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Geocarpon/> - *Gymnocarpos*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Gymnocarpos/> - *Gypsophila*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Gypsophila/> - *Herniaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Herniaria/> - *Holosteum*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Holosteum/> - *Honckenya*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Honckenya/> - *Illecebrum*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Illecebrum/> - *Ixoca* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Ixoca/> - *Kuhitangia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Kuhitangia/> - *Lepyrodiclis*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Lepyrodiclis/> - *Loeflingia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Loeflingia/> - *Lychnis*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Lychnis/> - *Melandrium*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Melandrium/> - *Mesostemma*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Mesostemma/> - *Microphyes*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Microphyes/> - *Minuartia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Minuartia/> - *Mniarum*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Mniarum/> - *Moehringia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Moehringia/> - *Moenchia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Moenchia/> - *Myosoton*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Myosoton/> - *Oberna* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Oberna/> - *Ortega* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Ortega/> - *Otites* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Otites/> - *Paronychia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Paronychia/> - *Petrorhagia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Petrorhagia/> - *Philippiella*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Philippiella/> - *Pleconax*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pleconax/> - *Pleioneura*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pleioneura/> - *Plettkea*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Plettkea/> - *Pollichia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pollichia/> - *Polycarpaea*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Polycarpaea/> - *Polycarpon*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Polycarpon/> - *Polytepalum*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Polytepalum/> - *Porsildia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Porsildia/> - *Psammophiliella*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Psammophiliella/> - *Psammosilene*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Psammosilene/> - *Pseudocerastium*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pseudocerastium/> - *Pseudosaponaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pseudosaponaria/> - *Pseudostellaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pseudostellaria/> - *Pteranthus*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pteranthus/> - *Pycnophyllopsis*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pycnophyllopsis/> - *Pycnophyllum*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Pycnophyllum/> - *Reicheella*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Reicheella/> - *Sabulina*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Sabulina/> - *Sagina* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Sagina/> - *Sanctambrosia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Sanctambrosia/> - *Saponaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Saponaria/> - *Scleranthopsis*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Scleranthopsis/> - *Scleranthus*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Scleranthus/> - *Scopulophila*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Scopulophila/> - *Silene* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Silene/> - *Spergula*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Spergula/> - *Spergularia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Spergularia/> - *Stellaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Stellaria/> - *Telephium*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Telephium/> - *Thylacospermum*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Thylacospermum/> - *Tissa* <http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Tissa/> - *Tytthostemma*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Tytthostemma/> - *Vaccaria*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Vaccaria/> - *Velezia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Velezia/> - *Wilhelmsia*<http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/Wilhelmsia/> -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ --
