DIANTHUS CARYOPHYLLUS-CLOVE CARNATION. 



CLASS, DECANDRIA ; ORDER, DIGYNIA. 

 NATURAL ORDER, CARYOPHYLLACEJ3. 



US.IVERSITY, 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx cylindric, one leaved, with four scales at 

 the base. Petals five, with claws. Capsules cylindric, one celled. 

 SPEC. CHAR. Calycine scales, cylindric, very short. Petals 

 crenate. 



The generic name of this family is derived from two Greek 

 words, meaning divine flower, on account of its preeminent beauty 

 and fragrance. They are all herbaceous evergreens, varying in 

 height from six inches to three or four feet. We are told that one 

 or more species, is native of every country in Europe, one is from 

 Asia, one from Africa, and one from America. Phillips remarks, 

 that these delightful flowers, which next to the Rose are now become 

 favorites with all our florists, have been raised from a small kind 

 of Red Clove Pink, belonging to Europe, s*ome say to England, 

 and evidently like the rest of its species, unknown to the ancients. 

 It was a flower of high estimation at the time of Queen Elizabeth, 

 in England, for we often find it celebrated by the poets of her 

 day; Spenser, who was remarkable for his care in retaining the 

 old manner of spelling, calls them CORONATIONS, probably be- 

 cause they were used on festive occasions, and from hence the 

 name of CARNATION seems a corruption. Some writers are of 

 opinion that they were called Carnation, after a flesh color so dis- 

 tinguished, while others with the most show of argument on their 



