Minuartia
Minuartia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the family Caryophyllaceae. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. The genus is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, mainly distributed in Europe, in the Mediterranean region, and north Africa, southwest Asia, and the Caucasus Mountains. Many "Minuartia" species were formerly classed in the genus "Arenaria", and the obsolete genus "Alsine". In 2014, the polyphyletic "Minuartia" "sensu lato" was recircumscribed, with many of the species transferred to other genera, including "Cherleria", "Eremogone , Facchinia", "Mcneillia", "Minuartiella", "Mononeuria", "Pseudocherleria", "Rhodalsine", "Sabulina", and "Triplateia". "Minuartia" "sensu stricto" is characterized by the following features: leaves linear-setaceous; 5 acute sepals with 3, 5, or 9-veins; 5 white petals; 3 styles, forming 3-parted capsules. The genus was named for Juan Minuart (1693–1768), a Spanish botanist and pharmacist.