Genus Dianthus L. L.. Sp. PI. ed. 1 (1753) 409; Gen. PL ed. 5 (1754) 191. Fam: Caryophyllaceae Juss.
Genus: Dianthus L.
English Name: Carnation
Description:Herbaceous annuals and perennials, rarely subshrubs, with opposite leaves without stipules. Blossoms, single or arranged in clusters, often they are collected in bundles or heads; heads at the base often enveloped by bracts, reduced in the form of flakes. Calyx tubular or funnel, with parallel veins, the top 5 tabs, at the base of 2 - 6 bract scales – a calyx with flakes. Petals without protuberances on its upper surface - the basis of their enlarged part; lamina narrowed down in a linear, relatively long fingernail. Stamens10. The ovary is formed by two vege-sheets, with upper single station ovary, with many ovules and the top 2 bars. Fruit single station, usually elongated ellipsoid box when ripe opens on top with 4 tabs, seated or lying on their own short stalk - Karpoforo. Seed round, flat or thyroid or shallow dish prominent. Embryo straight inside the endo- and perisperm.
Economic significance. All our carnations can be used as ornamental plants was planting in gardens and flower beds or groups on artificial rock groups, either for making bouquets. Many members can be forced indoors for earlier flowering. In folk medicine decoction of leaves and flowers of carnations are used against skin rashes, headaches, cramps and more. Many representatives contain saponins.Table for determining of the species
1. The blossoms arranged in bundles, rarely single and then plant is annual. Karpoforo very short ...................................................................... 2
1* Blossoms located 1 - 2 (rarely 5). Karpoforo always well developed ......................................................................................................... 18
2. Scales in the calyx grassy, green .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
2* Scales in the calyx tunicates, usually not green; only ordinary scales of clusters sometimes greenish or have green little awn . ........................ . 9
3. Annual or biennial plants with thin spindly roots ............................................................................................................................................. 4
3* Perennial plants with highly developed root system ....................................................................................................................................... 6
4. The calyx and the upper portion of the stem covered with glandular hairs .......................... 5. 3. Thyroid cloves - D. corymbosus Sibth. et Sm.
4* Calyx and stems usually without glands ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
5. Calyx (13) 15 - 20 mm in length, fiber, rarely naked ............................................................................ 1. Armerio-like cloves - D. armeria L.
5* Calyx shorter goals, sometimes rough ....................................................................... 2. Psewdo armerio-like cloves - D. pseudarmeria MV
6. Stem leaves 10 - 15 mm wide, veins formed as a network and stem ..................................................... 4. Dianthus barbatus - D. barbatus L.
6* Stem leaves usually with parallel veins formed, closer and seated ................................................................................................................. 7
7. Scales in the calyx green or reddish, without membranous edge .............................................. 7. urumovii cloves - D. urumoffii Stoj. et Acht.
7* Scales in the calyx with a narrow membranous edge ……….....................................................................................................………….. 8
8. Leaves 3 -11 mm wide. Scales in the calyx with well-developed beard, often reaching the a pan teeth ............................................................. ............................................................................................................................. 5. Tri-sheaf-like cloves - D. trifasciculatus Kit.
8* Leaves 2 - 3 mm wide. Scales in the calyx oval, short or with underdeveloped small awns, do not exceed half the length of the calyx................ ........................................................................................................................................ 6. tunicates cloves - D. membranaceus Borb.
9. Scales in the calyx lanceolate or linear lanceolate, usually as the calyx with purple slut .............. 7. urumovii cloves - D. urumoffii Stoj. et Acht.
9* Scales in the calyx back oval or oval, sometimes almost medullary, with or without a beard, without purple drag ................................ ........ 10
10. Scales in the calyx clear narrow membranous edge ..................................................................................................................................... 11
10* Scales in the calyx without a clear membranous edge ................................................................................................................................. 12
11. Wrapping flakes of inflorescence rotund, wide closely webbed, slightly round serrated edge. Scales in the calyx with well-developed awn ........ outspread, reaching to the middle of the calyx ............................................................. 9 Scales in the calyx cloves - D. pelviformis Heuff.
11* Wrapping flakes of inflorescence back oval, with narrow membranous edge. Scales in the calyx with short small awn, close to the calyx........... ......................................................................................................................................................... 10. Hungarian cloves - D. pontederae Kern.
12. Petals top red (rarely whitish), bottom yellow .................................................................................. 15. Polish cloves - D. campestris M. C.
12* Petals red on both sides (except as white) ................................................................................................................................................ 13
13. Scales in the calyx back oval or oval, tapered or gradually evolving into awn ...................................................................................... ....... 14
13* Scales in the calyx lanky back oval or heart-shaped back, the tip cut off or even cut, sharp passing in awn .................................................. 15
14. Lowest leaves 2 - 3 (rarely 5) cm long, almost like tiny bristles, slightly arched and curved back look prickly .................................................... .............................................................................................................................................. 14. Coniferous cloves - D. pinifolius Sibth. et Sm.
14* Lowest leaves broadly linear, grassy, long and usually upright ............................................................... 8. Giant cloves - D, giganteus D'Urv.
15. Lowest leaves 2 - 3 (rarely 5) cm long, almost bristly, quite hard, curved, back, pointed ................................................... ............................... ............................................................................................................................................... 14. Coniferous cloves - D. pinifolius Sibth. et Sm.
15* Lowest leaves up to 20 or more inches long, linear to broadly linear, rarely almost fibrous, never curved arc ................................................ 16
16 * The awn of scales in the calyx bristly and spread, with webbed edge; the latter are generally more or less wrinkled .......................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... 13. carnation bearded - D. cruenthus Griseb.
16* The awn of scales in the calyx for the most part straight and repose to the calyx with webbed edge, usually wrinkled .................................... 17
17. Hard edge slightly wrinkled. Awn clearly longer than the scales. Lamina of the petals is always longer than half the length of the nail (5 - 12 mm),. front sharp ..................................................................................................................... ... 12. Kartuzianski cloves - D. cartusianorum L.
17* Scales in the calyx edge usually not wrinkled. The awn approximately equal in length with flakes. Lamina of petals 3-6 times shorter than the nail (3 - 4 mm), the front finely not always clear toothed ............................................................ 11. Mizian cloves - D. moesiacus Vis. et Panč.
18 (1 *) lamina of petals in front thinly sliced ....................................................................................................................................................... 19
18* lamina petals entire or serrated shallow ......................................................................................................................................................... 20
19. Leaves almost like small setae, the top tapered .......................................................................... 20. Rock cloves - D. petraeus Waldst., Et Kit.
19* Leaves lanceolate or linear lanceolate ...................................................................................... 21. Magnificent, superb cloves - D. superbus L.
20. Petals white or off-white, top nude ............................................................................................................................................................... 21
20* Petals usually red (only exceptionally white), top with a tuft of hairs .............................................................................................................. 22
21. Lowest leaves linear like small setae, short (1 - 2 cm). Calyx narrowly cylindrical, often blackish. Petals white ..................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................... 20. Rock cloves - D. petraeus Waldst. et Kit.
21* Lowest leaves linear wide (3 - 10 mm wide) and always longer than 2 cm. Wide cylindrical calyx, green. Petals yellowish ………..............……. ...................................................................................................................................................................... 19. Pale cloves - D. pallens MV
22. Lowest leaves and leaves of sterile shoots elliptical lanceolate, blunt ............................................................. 22. deltoid cloves - D. deltoides L.
22* Leaves linear, linear lanceolate or almost like small setae, the top tapered ……........................................................................................….. 23
23. Leaves like small setae, hard, about 2 mm wide ........................................................................ 16. Kartaloviden cloves - D. nardiformis Janka
23* Leaves linear, always wider than 2 mm ......................................................................................................................................................... 24
24. Plants, forming dense cushions with reduced stems. hard rhombic oval without awn or with short grass small awn ................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... 18. Drebnolyuspest cloves - D. microlepis Boiss.
24* Plants with other features ............................................................................................................................................................................. 25
25. Scales in the calyx oval, to tip gradually narrowed passing in awn. Vaginas average stem leaves no longer, or at most 2 (3) times longer than the .. diameter of the stem ................................................................................................................................. Field cloves - D. campestris MV
25* Scales in the calyx back oval, suddenly passing in awn. Vaginas average stem leaves 2 - 4 (5) times longer than the diameter of the stem or plant forms dense cushions, with reduced stems ..................................................................... .. 17. Sleek, slim cloves -D. gracilis Sibth. et Sm.From „Флора на НР България”, том III, БАН, София, (1067) Dianthus is a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native mainly to Europe and Asia, with a few species extending south to north Africa, and one species (D. repens) in arctic North America. Common names include carnation (D. caryophyllus), pink (D. plumarius and related species) and sweet william (D. barbatus). Description
The species are mostly herbaceous perennials, a few are annual or biennial, and some are low subshrubs with woody basal stems. The leaves are opposite, simple, mostly linear and often strongly glaucous grey-green to blue-green. The flowers have five petals, typically with a frilled or pinked margin, and are (in almost all species) pale to dark pink. One species, D. knappii, has yellow flowers with a purple centre. Some species, particularly the perennial pinks, are noted for their strong spicy fragrance.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
References: „Флора на НР България”, том III, БАН, София, (1067)
Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.Species: Dianthus armeria L. - Deptford Pink or Grass Pink
Dianthus barbatus L. - Sweet William
Dianthus corymbosus Sibth. et Sm. -
Dianthus moesiacus Vis. et Panč. -
Dianthus pelviformis Heuffel. -
Dianthus petraeus Waldst. et Kit. -
Dianthus superbus L. - Fringed pink
E-mail: krnanev@gmail.com © K.Nanev