Dianthus elegans
Dianthus elegans
Deli karanfil
Perennial, 10-52 cm. Leaves 5-13 cm x 1-2,5 mm, flat, green or glaucous. Flowers solitary or in groups of 2-7, pedicels 1-30 mm. Bracteoles 4-20, less than 1/3 to almost equalling the calyx, inner ovate to broadly ovate, subobtuse to apiculate, outer narrowly ovate to linear, acute to aristate. Calyx 18-28 x 3,5-4,5 mm, cylindrical, teeth 2,3-6,5 mm. Petal limb 9-18 mm, pink, often darker spotted, deeply dentate. Cliffs and rocky places, usually limestone.
A very polymorphic species that needs biosystematic study. Three partly sympatric varieties are recognised here:
1. Bracteoles not more than 6, outer linear, green, longer than the inner ......var. elegans
1. Bracteoles 8 or more
2. Outer bracteoles linear, green, longer than the inner .................var. actinopetalus
2. Bracteoles decreasing in size outwards together; plant usually glaucous) ...........var. cous
Distribution of the species: Endemic. E. Medit. element.
