Dianthus armeria

Dianthus armeria, the Deptford pink or grass pink,[1] is a species of Dianthus ("pink") native to most of Europe, from Portugal north to southern Scotland and southern Finland, and east to Ukraine and the Caucasus.[2][3][4] It is naturalised in North America.[1]

Dianthus armeria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Caryophyllaceae
Genus:	Dianthus
Species:	D. armeria
Binomial name
Dianthus armeria L.

Description

Dianthus armeria is an annual or biennial plant which grows to about 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) tall and have a very slender appearance. It has widely spaced. paired leaves and above these it branches rather sparingly.[5] At the ends of the stems there are short-stalked or stalkless clusters of deep pink flowers that are surrounded by erect, hairy, leaf-like bracts. These can also be located laterally. Each flower is 8 to 13 millimetres (0.31 to 0.51 in) in diameter and has 5 lanceolate petals which have irregular serrated edges and small white spotting on their upper surface.[6] Its leaves are hairy, dark green in colour and slim in shape.[7]

Distribution

Dianthus armeria is native to Europe where it is widespread as far north as 60°N in Scandinavia and extends eastwards to Armenia and the Caucasus, it is found as far south as Spain and Sicily. It has been introduced to North America where it is now naturalised and is widespread.[6] In Britain it is now extirpated as a native species from Scotland and is known from a few dozen sites in England and 4-5 sites in Wales, including a nature reserve in Flintshire, a quarry near Pontypridd in Rhondda Cynon Taf, near a reservoir in the vicinity of Port Talbot and along a farm track on a site near Llanelli.[8]

Habitat and ecology

Dianthus armeria is a species of open and periodically disturbed sites, it is normally an annual but can be biennial or a short-lived perennial. New leaf rosettes form at the base of old plants from buds located on their roots demonstrating that this species is in fact a short-lived perennial and has a life-span of less than two and a half years.[6] It flowers from July to September.[7] Its flowers are scentless and do not appear to be insect pollinated often and self-pollination is the norm. Each plant gradually releases around 400 seeds from their pods, however, some plants may hold a small fraction of the seeds they produce over winter.[6] It closes its blooms in the late afternoons.[7]

Cultivation and uses

Seeds of Dianthus armeria

It is widely grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. Populations have been introduced to and have become naturalised in New Zealand and much of North America.[9]

Name

The name Deptford pink was coined in the 17th century by naturalist Thomas Johnson, who described a pink flower growing in Deptford in South-East London. However, it is very likely that Johnson was actually describing the related maiden pink, and it is unlikely that this species has grown in the area its named after since the city of London was built.[10]

References

1. Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum, p. 234.
2. Flora Europaea: Dianthus armeria
3. Den Virtuella Floran: Dianthus armeria (in Swedish, with maps)
4. Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2
5. "Deptford Pink Dianthus armeria". Illinois Wild Flowers. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
6. "Dianthus armeria L." (PDF). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
7. "Deptford Pink Dianthus armeria". Plantlife. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
8. "Deptford Pink's Flintshire site sees 14-fold increase". BBC. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
9. "Dianthus armeria L. Deptford pink". USDA. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
10. "Deptford Pink". The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieved 24 March 2020.