Carnegiea gigantea, Giant Saguaro

Southwest Desert Flora

Home to the plants of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Mojave Deserts

Cirsium ochrocentrum, Yellowspine Thistle

Caryophyllaceae, Pink Family or Carnation Family

Caryophyllaceae are prominent in temperate climates. Important species are ornamental varieties which include the pinks and carnations. Other species are weedy. Perhaps one of the most notable species is the Antarctic Pearlwort (Colbanthus quitensis) which is considered the southermost dicot, one of only two flowering plants in Antarctica.

Caryophyllaceae has approximately 88 genera and about 2,295 species.

References:
The Plant List. A working list of all known plant species. [accessed 15 February 2015]
http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Caryophyllaceae/
Wikipedia contributors, 'Caryophyllaceae', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 December 2014, 08:57 UTC,
[accessed 15 February 2015]
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service on-line database – ITIS search