''Herniaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family
Caryophyllaceae
Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family (biology), family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the APG III system, alongside 33 other families, including Amaranth ...
known generally as ruptureworts. They are native to Eurasia and Africa but several species have been widely introduced to other continents. These are flat, mat-forming annual herbs. The genus gets its scientific and common names from the once-held belief that species could be used as an herbal remedy for
hernia
A hernia (: hernias or herniae, from Latin, meaning 'rupture') is the abnormal exit of tissue or an organ (anatomy), organ, such as the bowel, through the wall of the cavity in which it normally resides. The term is also used for the normal Devel ...
s.
Flora of North America
/ref>
Selected species
*'' Herniaria algarvica''
*'' Herniaria cachemiriana''
*'' Herniaria capensis''
*'' Herniaria caucasica''
*'' Herniaria ciliolata''
*'' Herniaria cinerea''
*''Herniaria glabra
''Herniaria glabra'', the smooth rupturewort, is a plant of the family Caryophyllaceae
Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family (biology), family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon o ...
''
*'' Herniaria hirsuta''
*'' Herniaria lusitanica''
**'' Herniaria lusitanica subsp. berlengiana''
*'' Herniaria maritima''
*'' Herniaria kotovii''
*'' Herniaria parnassica''
*'' Herniaria polygama''
*'' Herniaria pujosii''
*'' Herniaria setigera''
*'' Herniaria suavis''
References
External links
Flora of China
Caryophyllaceae genera
{{Caryophyllaceae-stub