Saponaria officinalis L. Common soapwort

Saponaria officinalis L. - Common soapwort

Scientific Description:

Erect perennial with a creeping rhizome and simple or little-branched stems, 30−70 cm. Leaves oblong-elliptic, up to 12 × 3 cm, acute or acuminate, shortly petiolate or sessile, distinctly 3-nerved, glabrous or pubescent. Flowers fragrant, in compact terminal corymbs, shortly pedunculate. Calyx green or yellowish green, glabrous or pubescent, narrowly oblong-cylindrical, 18−22 mm, with 1.5−2 mm ovate, acuminate teeth. Petals up to 30 mm, white or pink with an obovate lamina with 2 small scales at the base, and a narrow claw. Capsule oblong-ovate, shorter than calyx.

Flowering time: June−August.

Habitat: Roadsides, streamsides, damp woods, shady places, 200−1100 m.

Reference:

Hedge IC (1967). Saponaria officinalis L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2: 141.

Public Description:

Saponaria officinalis, commonly known as “common soapwort”, spreads naturally throughout Europe, from Asia to Western Siberia, but also has spread to other parts of the world as weed or ornamental plant. It is a perennial plant with flamboyant pink or white flowers. As it can be understood from the name of the Common soapwort, it has been used to make natural soap in the past. Leaves and roots of the plant were soaked in water and liquid soap was produced by passing the chemical substance "saponin" to water. This soap historically used to clean delicate or unique textiles is still used to clean delicate antique carpets. It blooms in June and August and is mostly found on roadsides, riverside, humid forests and shaded areas.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2017). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponaria_officinalis, Accessed date: 17.11.2017.

Anonymous 2 (2017). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/search/?q=Saponaria+officinalis+,Accessed date: 17.11.2017.

Ekim T (2012). Saponaria L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 353–354.