Vaccaria

Vaccaria is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae containing the single species Vaccaria hispanica. It is known by several common names including cowherb, cowcockle, cow basil, cow soapwort, and prairie carnation. Its subspecies were previously treated as separate species.[1]

Vaccaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Core eudicots
Order:
Caryophyllales
Family:
Caryophyllaceae
Genus:
Vaccaria

Wolf
Species:
V. hispanica
Binomial name
Vaccaria hispanica
(Mill.) Rauschert
Synonyms

Saponaria hispanica Mill.
 Saponaria vaccaria L.
Vaccaria pyramidata Medik.
Vaccaria segetalis (Neck.) Garcke ex Asch.
Vaccaria vaccaria (L.) Huth
Vaccaria vulgaris Host

It is an annual herb with blue-gray, waxy herbage and pale pink flowers.

It is native to Eurasia but can be found in many other regions as an introduced species and a common weed.

The seeds of Vaccaria are used in Chinese medicine. This medicinal ingredient is known as Wang Bu Liu Xing. It is supposed to promote diuresis and milk secretion, activate blood circulation and relieve swelling.

References
  1. Flora of North America
  • Jepson Manual Treatment
  • USDA Plants Profile
  • "Vaccaria hispanica". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  • Washington Burke Museum
  • Flora of Western Australia
  • Photo gallery


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