DIANTHUS DELTOÏDES. MAIDEN PINK.
DIANTHUS deltoïdes; floribus solitariis, squamis calycinis ovato-acuminatis subbims, foliis obtusius-
culis pubescentibus, petalis crenatis.
DIANTHUS deltoïdes. Linn. Sp. PI. p. 588. Buds. Angl. p. 184.
With. Bot. A rr. ed. 4. ml. 3. p. 402. FI. Dan. t. 577. Boffm. Germ, ed.% ml. \ ■
p . I. p.1 9 1 . Willd. Sp. PI. ml. 2. p. 676. Smith FI. Brit. p. 462. Eng. Bot. t. 61.
Dccahd. FI. Fr. ed. 3. ml. 4. p. 744. FI. Galt. Syn. p. 388. P e n . Syn. PI. ml. 1.
p. 494. A itm Bart. Kern. ed. 2. ml. 3. p. 80. Hook. FI. Scot. P . l . p . 134.
CARYOPHYLLUS minor repens nostras. Maiden Pinks. Raii Syn. p . 335.
R. squamis calycinis sub-quatuor. floribus albis.
DIANTHUS glaucus. Linn. Sp. PI. p. 588. Light/. FI. Scot. p. 225.
Dan. Fiernellike. Dutch. Pluimpjes. Germ. Die Federnelke. Ital. Garofano piumario. Port.
Cra’oo plumario. Span. Clavel piumario. Swed. Fjader neglika.
Class and Order. DECANDRIA ‘D IGYNIA.
[Natural Order. CARYOPHYLLEAL.]
Ge n . Ciiah. Calyx cylindricus, monophyllus, basi squamatus. Petala qoinque, unguiculata. Capsula cyhn-
drica, supera, uoilocularis.—Sm.
G e n . Chau. Calyx cylindrical, monophyllous, scaly at the base. Petals five, clawed. Capsule cylindrical,
superior, one-celled.—Sm.
Radix perennis, parva, subfusiformis, fibrosa.
Caüles numerosi ex eadem radice, spithamæi, basi sub-
decumbentes, dein erecti, dichotomi, ramosi, sca-
briusculi.
Folia remotiuscula, opposita, linearia, obtusa, sub lente ,
præcipue ad marginem pubescenti-scabra, obtusa,
glauco-viridia, basi connata.
F lores numerosi, terminales, solitarii, pulcherrime rosei.
Calyx cylindraceus, striatus, purpureo-viridis, glabrius-
culus, apice quinque-dentatus, basi bracteis duo-
bus oppositis, ovatis, cuspidato-acuminatis muni-
tus. Infra has sed paululum remota, folia bina
floralia, bracteis simillima, sed angustiora.
Corolla pentapetala. Petala longe unguiculata, ungue
lineari, albo ; lamina obovata, rosea, apice cre-
nato-serrata, basin versus non raro alba, macula
lunulata purpurea, aliisque maculis parvis albis
prope medium.
Stamina decern, vix ultra tubum exserta. Filamenta
alba. Antheræ oblongoe, purpureæ.
P istillum : Germen cylindricum, glabrum. Styli duo,
filiformes, exserti.
Capsula cylindrica, calyce corollaque tecta, apice
quinque-dentata, unilocularis, polysperma.
Semina numerosa, receptaculo centrali libero subspira-
liter inserta, atra, ovato-compressa, peltata.
Root perennial, small, subfusiform, fibrous. .
Stems springing numerously from one root, a span
high, somewhat decumbent at the base, thence
erect, dichotomous, branched, roughish.
L eaves rather remotely placed, opposite, linear, obtuse,
appearing under the microscope rough with pubescence,
especially at the margins, obtuse, glaucous
green, connate at their bases.
Flowers numerous, terminal, solitary, of a beautiful
rose-colour.
Calyx cylindrical, Striated, purplish green, almost
smooth, five-toothed at the summit, furnished with
two opposite, ovate, cuspidato-acuminate brac-
teas at the base. Below these, but somewhat
remote, are two floral leaves, similar to the brac-
teas, but narrower.
CorOlla pentapetalous. Petals with long claws, the
claw linear, white; its lamina obovate, rose-
coloured, crenato-serrate at the point, not un-
frequently white with a lunulate purple mark at
the base, and having other small white spots near
the middle.
Stamens ten, scarcely exserted beyond the tube. Filaments
white. Anthers oblong, purple.
P ist il : Germen cylindrical, glabrous. Styles two, filiform,
exserted.
Capsule cylindrical, covered with the calyx and corolla,
five-toothed at the summit, one-celled, many-
seeded.
Seeds numerous, inserted somewhat spirally on afree, central
receptacle; black, ovato-compressed, peltate.
Vie, 1 . Sinele flower. Fig. 2. Petal. Fig. 3. Calyx, with its bracteas. Fig. 4. Stamen. Fig. 5. Pistil.
Fi<r. 6. Capsule, inclosed within the calyx and corolla (natural size). Fig. 7.. Capsule, burst at the extremity.
Fig. 8. Receptacle of seeds. Fig. 9 ■ Single seed : all but Fig. 6 more or less magnified.
This is one of the most elegant and graceful species of the deservedly favourite genus Dianthus. I t grows in
thick tufts: and in the middle of the day, when its flowers are fully expanded, the appearance is truly beautiful.
Dianthus deltoides prefers a sandy soil on banks, or under the shelter of a few !s t i ^ “ng trees, in En^ ancl it _
tolerably plentiful: in Scotland it is more rare. Our specimens were gathered in the Highlands, neai Blair m A thol,
and our friend Mr. George Anderson, of Inverness, has found it even to the north of that town, in Ross-shire,
which is perhaps its most northerly station in Britain.
Its flowering season is August and September.