96 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



Dianthus superbus L. (Plate V.) 



Stem i8 inches high, rounded, branched above. Leaves Unear- 

 lanceolate, soft, but rough at edges, the inferior sub-obtuse, the 

 superior acute. Scales oval, mucronate, i or ^ length of calyx-tube, 

 purple-red. Petals large, slit and fringed, pink or lilac, with reddish 

 hairs and green spots at the base, rarely white, scented. 



Woods and damp meadows from the plains up to 6500 feet. June 

 to September. 



Distribution. — Central and Southern Europe ; Western Asia, 

 Jap^n. 



D. speciosus Reichb. is a rare Alpine variety, found in meadows 

 in Southern Switzerland and Tyrol from 5000-7500 feet. 



D. superbus does not live very long, and is generally treated as a 

 biennial. It requires deep, peaty soU or a mixture of sand and leaf- 

 mould. 



Dianthus monspessulanus L. 



This belongs to the same group as superbus, and may be treated 

 in a similar way, though it grows in drier places. The variety 

 alpicola Koch {D. alpestris Stemb. and Hoppe) has i-flowered stems. 

 It is found locally in meadows in Southern Tyrol and Carinthia, at 

 from 1600-2400 metres. 



D. monspessulanus is a native of Southern Europe. 



Dianthus Carthusianorum L. (Plate VIII.) 



Stem about a foot high or higher, simple. Leaves linear-acute ; 

 the stem-leaves with a long sheath. Flowers a deep red, sub- 

 sessile, 2-8 in a dense panicle, surrounded with coriaceous bracts. 

 Scales of calyx scarious, the point reaching the centre of the 

 calyx-tube. Calyx dark purple. Petals obovate, hairy at the 

 throat, toothed ; capsule cylindrical. 



Arid, stony, and bushy places in the Alps and plains, up to 7000 

 or 8000 feet in the Alps. June to September. 



Distribution. — Central and Southern Europe, but rare in the 

 Mediterranean region. 



A very variable plant with several named varieties, such as atro- 

 rubens, vaginatus, etc. 



Dianthus Seguieri ViU. 



Glabrous ; forming tufts of leaves, Stem 12-18 inches high, 

 branching, angular. Leaves linear, flat. Flowers pink, with a purple 

 circle round the centre, in heads of 2-4. Scales long, striated, %vith 

 erect spreading point, equaUing the tube of the calyx. Calyx rather 

 long, striated throughout, with sharp lanceolate teeth. Petals hairy 

 at the throat, deeply toothed. Capsule cylindric. 



Dry, bushy places in the lower mountains and hills ; local. 

 June to August. 



