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Which Caryophyllales families contain many salt-tolerant plants?
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Caryophyllales
Pink carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus).
Within the order Caryophyllales, several families are notable for containing many species adapted to saline environments (halophytes).
The following families are specifically identified as having many salt-tolerant members:
- Amaranthaceae: This family contains many species that thrive in poor, saline soils. A prominent example is the genus Atriplex (saltbush), which is extremely tolerant of high salt concentrations and commonly found in coastal areas.123
- Caryophyllaceae: Known as the pink or carnation family, it includes many members adapted to desert or saline habitats.4
- Polygonaceae: This family also features many species adapted to desert or halophytic conditions.4
- Plumbaginaceae: While common worldwide, most members of this family thrive in saline environments, such as seashores.4
- Frankeniaceae: This is a strongly halophytic family that, along with Tamaricaceae, possesses specialized salt-excreting glands to cope with saline conditions.5