Dianthus Armeria

Dianthus armeria Status UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species. Nationally Scarce. IUCN Threat category: Endangered (2005). Taxonomy Magnoliopsida: Caryophyllaceae Scientific name: Dianthus armeria L., Common names: Deptford Pink, Penigan y Porfeydd Dianthus is a large genus of the Caryophyllaceae, Bracts many species of which are grown in gardens for their lovely pink flowers (Carnations and Pinks) (Williams 1893). They have a calyx of fused sepals which lacks scarious seams running along the tube between the teeth, two styles, no additional lobes (scales) on the face of the petals, and an epicalyx of two scales close to the base of the calyx. They are only likely to be confused with Petrorhagia species in Britain, which differ in having whitish seams along the calyx between the teeth. There are 7-9 species of Dianthus in Britain, most of which are introductions (Stace 1997). Dianthus armeria is a distinct, readily recognised species, which is variable in size depending on growth conditions, and is a little variable in hairiness. The widely- Figure 1. Illustration of key features (from J. E. Smith & J. accepted and widely-used name Deptford Pink arose Sowerby (1852). English Botany. London) as a result of confusion with D. deltoides which was the species originally observed at Deptford (Britten Its widespread and marked decline is probably due 1892). to the conversion of open pasture to arable, from construction, and from a lack of disturbance at other Biology & Distribution sites. Dianthus armeria is an annual or biennial (to short- lived perennial?) herb of open, disturbed habitats, Identification & Field survey occurring in open grassland, on roadsides, gravel Dianthus armeria differs from the other British pits, field margins, rocky outcrops, sandy places and Dianthus species in having dense clusters of 3-8 dark as a casual on waste ground. It occurs as a native pink flowers at the stem apex which are surrounded scattered throughout southern Britain, but is regarded by an involucre of hairy bracts. It is most similar to as an introduction in northern England and Scotland. the garden plant D. barbatus, Sweet William, but is generally smaller and hairy. In Wales it mainly occurs in the south, with a few localities in north Wales along the coast. Its status Populations vary from year to year, so regular counts has been reviewed in Britain, for Plantlife by Wilson are needed over several years to assess the trends. (1999, 2002), and is currently being updated for Wales Notes on the openness of the habitat at the time of (T. Dines, pers. comm. 2004). survey would also be useful to assess management needs. Key characters References Annual or biennial 10-60 cm tall, dark green or often Britten, J. (1892). The Deptford pink. Journal of flushed purple, shortly hairy at least above. Rosette Botany 30: 177-178. leaves linear-oblanceolate, often absent at flowering. Preston, C.D., Pearman, D. A. & Dines, T. D. eds. Stem leaves to 48 mm long x 3 mm wide, five-nerved, (2002). New Atlas of the British & Irish flora. Oxford linear-lanceolate, acute at apex, in opposite pairs. University Press, Oxford. nd Flowers in shortly stalked, dense clusters of 3-8. Stace, C. A. (1997). New flora of the British Isles. 2 ed. Involucral bracts about as long as flowers. Calyx 13- Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 20 mm long, hairy. Petals with a whitish stalk and an Williams, F. N. (1893). A monograph of the genus expanded dark pink toothed limb c. 4-5 mm long. Dianthus, Linn. Journal of the Linnean Society 29: 346-478. Local action plans Wilson, P. J. (1999). The status and distribution of UK BAP Species Action Plan (April 2002): Dianthus armeria L. in Britain. Report for 1998. http://www.ukbap.org.uk Back from the Brink Report No. 117. Plantlife, London. Wilson, P. J. (2002). Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink) in 2001. Back from the Brink Report No. 210. Plantlife, London. Additional photographs are available on the ARKive website (http://www.arkive.org/species). A full species dossier is available on the Plantlife website (www.plantlife.org.uk).

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