14 AMERICAN CARNATION CULTURE. 



and his arrangement has been called the "Natural System" of 

 botany . 



It is of interest to inquire into the botanical classification of 

 a plant that has lived with a changeless name for two thousand 

 three hundred years in the floral records of the world, and whose 

 flowers in forty years, in this country, have risen in commercial 

 importance to four millions of dollars annually. 



According to the Linnsean System (improved by Lindley,) 

 of plant classification, the carnation of commerce belongs to the 

 Caryophyllacie tribe of plants, of the Dianthus genera, and is one 

 of the twenty natural orders of the Polypetalous division of plants. 

 As such it is technically described as an Herb, with opposite, en- 

 tire leaves; Flower, regular, both terminal and axillary; Sepals, 4 

 or 5, distinct, or adhering; Petals^ 4 or 5; Stamens, as many as 

 the petals opposite them, sometimes twice as many; Ovary, com- 

 posed of 2 to 5 carpels; Stigina, 2 to 5, sessile, filiform; Fruit, 

 a capsule opening at the apex; Seeds, indefinite in number; 

 Fmbryo, curved or coiled around the outside of a mealy alburnum. 



There are enumerated over 200 species of the Dianthus 

 genera of plants, none of which are natives of America, if Dian- 

 thus Repens is excepted, which is found on the coast of Kotzebues 

 Sound. Dianthus Armenia, and Prolifica found in the eastern 

 states, are introduced, and troublesome weeds, as is Dianthus 

 Stellaria Media, or the common Chickweed that is so vigorous in 

 the cooler months of autumn. There are only four species in 

 America which are regarded of any floral value. They are: 

 I. — Diaiithus Barbatiis. Synonyms: Sweet William, etc. 

 2. — Dia7ithus Chinesus. Synonyms: China Pink, D Diadem- 

 atus, D. Lancinatus, D. Headwigii are sports of this variety, and 

 in a bed of a thousand seedlings it is hard to find two alike. 



3. — Dianthus Plumaris. Synonyms: Garden Pink, Bunch 

 Pink, Florists' Pink, Cushion Pink, Pheasant- eye Pink, Dianthus, 

 Hortensus, etc. 



4. — Dia?iihus Caryophyllus. Synonyms: Clove Pink, Clove 

 Gilly Flower, Carnation, Tree Carnation, Remontant Carnation, 

 Semperflorens Carnation, Kverblooming Carnation, Forcing Pink, 



