CATCHFLY FAMILY. 87 



[CLOVE PINK, Dianthus Caryophillus. 



Stem branched, flowers mostly solitary. Scales of the 

 Calyx egg-shaped, broadest end at the top (oi-ovate), rather 

 bluntly pointed, (sub-mucronate), much shorter than the tube. 

 Petals broad, with angular notches, (dentato-crenate), leaves 

 long and narrow; awl-shaped, grooved, of a blue-green, 

 smooth on the margin.] 



This is the " curious choice Clove, Gilliflower ; " as 

 many of the poets of early days styled it. The name 

 is a corruption of Jwfo/-flower, from that month being 

 the time for its flowering. Spencer, the poet, calls 

 them Coronations, from which the name t Carnation,' 

 has arisen, no doubt. As it is never found but on old 

 walls, we may suppose that, like the Wall-flower, it 

 was first introduced into our gardens, from other 

 countries. But many authors are of opinion that it 

 originally grew wild on our rocks and cliffs ; as another 

 species, the CHEDDAR PINK, (Dianthus ccesius), with 

 pale lilac flowers, of the same size ; grows wild on the 

 limestone rocks of Cheddar. The flower of the 

 Carnation is as large as the Indian Pink of the 

 garden ; varying in color, from the palest pink (finely 

 dotted) to a rich crimson ; and very beautiful they 



