Dianthus ( )
Description
The species are mostly
herbaceous plant perennial plant (a few are
annual plant or
biennial plant), and some are low
with woody basal stems. The
leaves are opposite, simple, mostly linear and often strongly
glaucous grey green to blue green. The
have five petals, typically with a
Serration or
Pinking shears margin, and are (in almost all species) pale to dark pink. One species,
Dianthus knappii, has yellow flowers with a purple centre. Some species, particularly the perennial pinks, are noted for their strong spicy fragrance.
Taxonomy
Species
Selected species include:
Hybrids include;
-
'Devon Xera' – Fire Star Dianthus
-
'John Prichard'
Etymology
The name
Dianthus is from the
Ancient Greek διόσανθος, a compound from the words Δῖος
Dios ("of Zeus") and ἄνθος
anthos ("flower"), and was cited by the Greek botanist
Theophrastus.
[Gledhill D. 1996. The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press, VI.1.1, 6.2, 6.11 and 8.3. ] The colour
pink may be named after the flower, coming from the frilled edge of the flowers: the verb "to pink" dates from the 14th century and means "to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern", as demonstrated by the name of "
pinking shears", special scissors for cloth that create a zigzag or decorative edge that discourages fraying. Alternatively, "pink" may be derived from the Dutch "pinksteren" alluding to the season of flowering ("pinksteren" meaning "
Pentecost" in Dutch). Thus, the colour may be named after the flower, rather than the flower after the colour.
Ecology
Dianthus species are used as food plants by the
of some
Lepidoptera species including
cabbage moth, double-striped pug, large yellow underwing, and the lychnis. Also three species of
Coleophora case-bearers feed exclusively on
Dianthus;
C. dianthi,
C. dianthivora, and
C. musculella (which feeds exclusively on
D. superbus).
Cultivation
Since 1717, dianthus species have been extensively bred and hybridised to produce many thousands of
for garden use and
floristry, in all shades of white, pink, yellow, and red, with a huge variety of flower shapes and markings. They are often divided into the following main groups:
-
Border carnations – fully hardy, growing to , large blooms
-
Perpetual flowering carnations – grown under glass, flowering throughout the year, often used for exhibition purposes, growing to
-
Malmaison carnations – derived from the variety 'Souvenir de la Malmaison', growing to , grown for their intense "clove" fragrance
-
Old-fashioned pinks – older varieties; evergreen perennials forming mounds of blue-green foliage with masses of flowers in summer, growing to
-
Modern pinks – newer varieties, growing to , often blooming two or three times per year
-
Alpine pinks – mat-forming perennials, suitable for the rockery or alpine garden, growing to
Over 100 varieties have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Culture
In the language of flowers, pink
Dianthus symbolize boldness.
Dianthus gratianopolitanus – the Cheddar pink – was chosen as the county flower of Somerset in 2002 following a poll by the wild flora conservation charity Plantlife.[Plantlife website County Flowers page. ] Dianthus japonicus is the official flower of Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan.
In Japan, Dianthus superbus – the fringed pink or nadeshiko – is used in the term Yamato nadeshiko to describe the archetype of a traditional ideal woman.
== Gallery ==
See also
-
List of Award of Garden Merit dianthus
External links
