THE PINK FAMILY. [&ianOii* 



or southern Europe, and the last two said to establish themselves occa- 

 sionally half wild on old walls, the Indian Pink (D. sinensis), &c. 



1. D. prolifer, Linn. (fig. 129). Proliferous P. A stiff, erect, wiry, 

 glabrous annual, simple, or with a few erect branches, 6 inches to a 

 foot high or rather more. Leaves few, narrow, erect, and mostly 

 pointed. Flowers small, in compact, oblong or ovoid, terminal heads, 

 the calyx quite concealed by broad, dry, shining, almost scarious, im- 

 bricated scales, from the top of which appear the small, spreading, pink 

 petals. 



On dry, hilly pastures, roadsides, &c., in central and southern Europe 

 from southern Sweden to the Caucasus. In Britain, found wild in 

 various localities in southern and eastern England, extending northward 

 to mid-Scotland, but not indigenous. Fl. summer and autumn. 



2. D. Armeria, Linn. (fig. 130). Deptford P. An erect annual or 

 biennial, rather more than a foot high, slightly branched, and more or 

 less downy with very short hairs. Leaves more herbaceous than in most 

 Dianthi, 1 to 2 or even 3 inches long, obtuse, or the upper ones pointed. 

 Flowers small and scentless in terminal clusters. Calyx 8 or 9 lines 

 long, the teeth fine and pointed, the outer scales broad at the base, but 

 tapering into fine green points, often projecting beyond the calyx. 

 Petals narrow, pink, with white dots, crenate on the edge. 



On pastures, in waste places, under hedges, &c., in central and 

 southern Europe to the Caucasus, and northward to southern Sweden. 

 Not common in Britain, although it has been found in several English 

 and a few of the southern Scotch counties. Fl. summer. 



3. D. deltoides, Linn. (fig. 131). Maiden P. A low perennial, 

 forming a loose, diffuse, leafy tuft ; not of many years' duration, the 

 flowering stems ascending glabrous, or slightly hoary, 6 inches to near 

 a foot long, usually forked above the middle. Leaves seldom half an 

 inch long, green and glabrous, obtuse, or the upper ones scarcely 

 pointed. Flowers not large, scentless, pink or spotted with white, 

 solitary or two together, on short peduncles. Calyx 6 or 7 lines long, 

 with pointed teeth, the outer scales broad, with a narrow point reaching 

 to a third or near a half of the length of the calyx, 



On banks, open pastures, &c., in Europe and western Asia, pene- 

 trating further north into Scandinavia than the last two. More 

 generally distributed over Britain, from Inverness southwards, and 

 abundant in some localities, but wanting in many counties, and not 

 known in Ireland, except as an introduced plant. Fl. all summer. It 

 varies with 2 or 4 scales to the calyx, and has often white flowers. 



4. D. ceesius, Linn. (fig. 132). Cheddar P. A perennial, of a very 

 glaucous hue, forming a short, densely tufted, often almost woody stock. 

 Lower leaves crowded, stiff, seldom above an inch long, narrow-linear, 

 but obtuse. Flower-stems erect, 5 or G inches or rarely near a foot 

 high, simple and 1 -flowered, or rarely forked, bearing a few leaves 

 more pointed than the lower ones. Flowers rather large, fragrant. 

 Calyx rather thick, with short teeth, the outer scales 4, broad, very 

 shortly pointed, not half so long as the calyx. Petals broad, irregularly 

 crenate, usually with a few hairs on the inside. 



On limestone or volcanic rocks, in various parts of western, central, 

 and southern Europe, but usually very local. In Britain, confined to 

 the Cheddar rocks in Somersetshire. Fl. June and July. 



