Herniaria

Herniaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, commonly known as rupturewort. Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, several species have become naturalized elsewhere, and some are cultivated as ground covers. The name reflects traditional use in treating urinary stones.

Herniaria species are low-growing, herbaceous perennials or annuals with creeping stems. Leaves are opposite, simple, and often small. The flowers are inconspicuous, produced in dense clusters in the leaf axils or terminal inflorescences, typically greenish or white. Fruits are small capsules.

Habitat and distribution: They occur in a range of habitats, including rocky and calcareous soils, grasslands, meadows, and disturbed places. They prefer sunny sites and well-drained soils, and some tolerate drought and light foot traffic. They are native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, with some species introduced in North America.

Species and uses: The best-known species are Herniaria glabra (smooth rupturewort) and Herniaria hirsuta (hairy rupturewort). Historically, the plants were used in folk medicine to treat kidney and urinary stone conditions, but there is little evidence from modern research to support these uses. In horticulture, H. glabra is valued as a low-growing ground cover, forming a dense, spreading mat that tolerates light traffic and drought and is used in rock gardens and lawns in temperate regions.

Taxonomy and naming: Herniaria is part of the Caryophyllaceae family. The genus name derives from Latin terms associated with rupture, reflecting its traditional medicinal associations. Species names distinguish forms by hairiness and other morphological traits.