['T . [ 9 5 6 ]
D IA N TH U S prolifer.
Proliferous Pink.
DECANDRIA Digynia.
G en. Char. Cal. cylindrical, of one leaf, with fcales
at the bafe. Petals 3, with claws. Cap/. cylindrical,
fuperior, of 1 cell.
Spec. Char. Flowers cluttered, in heads. Calyx-
fcales ovate, blunt, beardlefs, membranous, overtopping
the tube.
Syn. Dianthus prolifer. Linn. Sp. P I. 587. Sm. F I.
B rit. 461. Hudf. 184. With. 409. Hull. 94.
Caryophyllus tylvettris prolifer. D ill, in R a il Syn. 3 3 7 .
T H 1S very uncommon Dianthus grows on a gravelly, or
rather marly, foil, in not more than 3 or 4 places in England.
Dillenius firft had it from Suffex : Mr. Ballard, an accurate
and experienced obferver, has found it in Worcefterfhire:
Mr. Humphrey met with it many years ago in the borders
of a field out of St. Auftin’s gates, Norwich, where it ftill
occurs, more or lefs fparingly in different feafons, flowering
from July to the very end of autumn.
Root annual, fmall. Stems erefit, rufhy, flender, little
branched except when very luxuriant, round, leafy, fmooth.
Leaves linear, pointed, rough on the edge; the lowermoft
fpatulate. Heads terminal, ovate, the dry brown membranous
fcales enfolding many flowers, one or two of which only are
in perfection at once, and they are fo tender and fhort-lived
that we have been obliged to have reeourfe to a garden fpecimen
to exprefs them. Calyx-tube flender, furrowed, fhorter than
the fcales. Petals notched. Stamina various in length, with
blueifh antherse. Capfule cylindrical, containing many flat
black feeds.
In gardens this plant grows with great luxuriance, and is
not unornamental, though the flowers want the fragrance
which many pinks poflefs. r. Z y J iz f SewerZy',