Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 113 



MAIDEN PINK (Dianthus deltoides) (EUROPEAN) 

 A handsome rose-colored Pink that has become nat- 

 uralized along the Atlantic coast and is quite abun- 

 dant i in some localities, in fields and waste places. 

 The flowers grow singly, or in pairs, at the ends of 

 the branching stem; the petals are broad, wedge-shap- 

 ed and finely-toothed; the calyx is tubular, five-tooth- 

 ed, veined and subtended at the base by two ovate 

 bracts that are about half its length. The leaves are 

 numerous, small, short and narrowly lanceolate. 



The Maiden Pink is one of the most graceful in 

 form of the family, hardy and a favorite under cul- 

 tivation. 



DEPFORD PINK (D. Armeria) (EUROPEAN) has 



narrower petals with longer claws; the five-toothed 

 calyx is very long, equal to the flower tube, and 

 downy; its two bracts are also long and linear. The 

 pink flowers grow in small clusters at the ends of 

 branching, downy, erect stems from 6 to 18 in. high. 

 It is now distributed from Me. to Mich, and south 

 to Va v being most abundant near the coast. 



FIRE PINK; CATCHFLY (Silene virginica) is one 



of our most brilliantly colored wild flowers, the 

 petals being either deep crimson or scarlet; the five 

 petals are oblong, 2-cleft, long-limbed and five in 

 number. The lower leaves are thin and spatulate, 

 the upper ones oblong-lanceolate. Both stem, leaves 

 and calyx are rather hairy. This species is found 

 in open woods from southern N. J., western N. Y. 

 and Mich, southwards. 



WILD PINK (Silene pennsylvanica) is another 

 beautiful native species, with bright pink flowers and 

 a low, sticky stem, the upper leaves are small, and 

 the numerous basal ones, lance-shaped. It is rath- 

 er common from Me. to N. Y. and southwards. 



8 



