CARYOPHYLLACE^ 95 



A large family widely spread over the globe, and very numerous 

 in temperate regions, especially in the northern hemisphere, 

 extending into the Arctic Circle and to the summits of the Alps. 

 The genera into which species are distributed are often very arti- 

 ficial, depending on the number of sepals, petals, stamens, or styles. 

 As these numbers are not strictly constant, even in different flowers 

 of the same species, care must be taken in some of the small-flowered 

 AlsinecB to count the parts of several flowers if hesitation be felt 

 as to the genus it should be referred to. 



DiANTHUS L. Pink. 



Stiff perennials, or more rarely annuals, with narrow leaves. 

 Calyx tubular-campanulate, 5-toothed, with 2-6 imbricating 

 scales at the base. Petals usually crenate, or jagged. Stamens 10. 

 Styles 2. Capsule stalked within the calyx, opening at the top in 

 4 teeth or short valves. 



A large genus, spread over Europe and Asia, with a few in S. 

 Africa. 



Dianthus prolifer L. (Tunica prolifera Scop.). 



A stiff, erect, glabrous, annual species, simple or with a few 

 erect branches, 6-12 inches high. Leaves few, narrow, erect, and 

 usually pointed. Flowers small, pink, in compact, oblong terminal 

 heads, the calyx concealed by broad, dry, shining, imbricated scales, 

 from the top of which the small, spreading petals appear. 



Dry places, roadsides, and hiUy pastures, from the plains to the 

 sub-sJpine region, as, e.g. in the Gorge de Trient at about 3500 feet. 

 May to September. 



Distribution. — Almost aU Europe; Western Asia, N. Africa. 

 British. 



A hairy, glandular variety, with longer sheath to the leaves and 

 pediceUed calyx, is called D. velutinus Guss. 



Dianthus saxifragus L. [Tunica saxifraga Scop.). 



Stem slender, glabrous, 6-8 inches high, with spreading branches. 

 Leaves linear-acute. Corolla pale rose, veined, small, solitary. 

 Calyx bell-shaped. Capsule ovoid. 



Arid places from the plains up to about 5500 feet in the Alps, as 

 e.g. near Evolene in 1911. June to August. 



Distribution. — From the Pyrenees and France to Eastern Europe ; 

 Western Asia as far as Persia. It has recently appeared in Pem- 

 brokeshire as an escape from cultivation. 



Tunica is a small genus, not always separated from Dianthus, 

 and differing from it in the calyx being pentagonous and the corolla 

 having no corona. 



