20 DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARNATION 



the flowers, wherein eonsisteth the chiefe difference. I account those that are called 

 Carnations to be the greatest, both for leafe and flower, and Gilloflowers for the most 

 part to bee lesser in both; and therefore, will give you each description apart, and the 

 Grange tawnie or yellow Gilloflower lilcewise by it selfe, as differing very notably from 

 all the rest. 



This classification of Carnations was probably the 

 first ever attempted, and Parkinson then proceeds to name 

 and describe, (i) the Great Harwich or old English Carna- 

 tion; (II) the Red or Clove Gilloflower; (III) the Yellow or 

 Orange Tawny Gilloflower. Following this he gives a 

 condensed description of nineteen varieties of Carnations, 

 and twenty-nine varieties of Gifloflowers (Gillyflowers). 

 These are all quite apart and distinct from the " small 

 wild Gilloflowers " or Pinks, descriptions of which are 

 also given. As Parkinson was in constant correspondence 

 with friends on the Continent, it may be assumed that he 

 knew and described afl the leading, well marked varieties 

 of the flower as known and grown in Europe in his day. 

 He was acquainted with Theophrastus's reference to the 

 Dios antbos, and adds, " Some would have these to be the 

 same as the Carnations and Gilloflowers (July-flowers)." 

 The scent of the ordinary red Gilloflower much resembled 

 the Clove of commerce and the name Caryophyllus is in 

 allusion to this, the Clove being called Caryophyllus 

 aromaticus. The Dios anthos {Dios, God; antbos, a flower, 

 the Dianthus or Divine Flower) is also from the ancient 

 Greek. The name might also be translated as " Jove's 

 flower," Jove being the chief divinity of the ancients. 

 On the other hand, the English name. Carnation, is of 

 doubtful meaning, but generally understood to have been 

 appHed to distinguish a deep red color. Other etymolo- 

 gists believe it to be from " Coronation," suggesting that 

 the flowers were much used for weaving into crowns or 

 chaplets for the head. 



With the passing of the centuries the Carnation had its 



