Dianthus Dianthus, D'Urv., D'Urv.

103. D. giganteus D’Urv. View in CoL , Mém. Soc. Linn. Paris 1: 301 (1822).

Robust, often pruinose perennial 20-100 cm. Leaves usually 2-4 mm wide, widest near the middle, flat, linear, acuminate; sheaths several times longer than diameter of stem. Flowers usually numerous, in dense heads, occasionally with a pair of leaves close below the head. Epicalyx-scales usually half as long as calyx, brown or scarious, ovate, acute or acuminate. Calyx (15-) 17-22 x (2-)3-4 mm, tapering from about the middle. Petallimb 5-8 mm, dentate, purple. 2« =30. • Balkan peninsula, extending northwards to Romania; one station in C. Italy. Al Bu G r Hu It Ju Rm Tu.

1 Epicalyx-scales scarious, whitish (f) subsp. leucophoeniceus

1 Epicalyx-scales membranous or almost coriaceous, brownish

2 Epicalyx-scales acute to acuminate, glabrous (a) subsp. giganteus

2 Epicalyx-scales cuspidate, usually ± puberulent

3 Cauline leaves 5-7 mm wide (d) subsp. haynaldianus

3 Cauline leaves rarely more than 3 mm wide

4 Calyx usually 18-22 mm; epicalyx-scales often reaching base of calyx-teeth, pale brown, ± membranous (e) subsp. italicus

4 Calyx up to 17 mm; epicalyx-scales distinctly shorter than calyx-tube, usually dark brown and somewhat coriaceous 5 Calyx 14-17 x 2-5-3 mm (b) subsp. croaticus 5 Calyx 12-15 x 3-4-5 mm (c) subsp. banaticus