5. Dianthus L. (pink, carnation)

Plants annual, biennial, or perennial. Stems erect or ascending, unbranched or branched, sometimes only in the inflorescence, glabrous or variously pubescent, sometimes glaucous. Leaves opposite, fused basally into a sheath, short-petiolate (basal leaves) or sessile (stem leaves), lacking axillary clusters of leaves. Stipules absent. Leaf blades linear to lanceolate or ovate, not fleshy, tapered at the base, angled or tapered to a bluntly (some basal leaves) or sharply pointed tip. Flowers in terminal, open to dense clusters, densely bracted heads, or solitary at the stem or branch tips (rarely axillary in D. barbatus), the stalks erect or the flowers nearly sessile, the bracts absent or more commonly paired and resembling smaller leaves. Epicalyx present of 1 or 2(3) pairs of bracts, these resembling small leaves, sometimes with thin, white to translucent margins. Sepals 5, fused into a slender tube, the tube 20–45-veined, herbaceous, green or reddish-tinged between the lobes, the lobes linear to lanceolate or ovate, shorter than the tube, angled or tapered to a bluntly or sharply pointed tip, not appearing hooded nor awned, the margins thin and white or reddish-tinged. Petals 5, conspicuous and showy, oblanceolate to spatulate, tapered to a stalklike base, toothed or deeply divided into an irregular fringe of slender lobes at the tip, white, pink, purple, or red, sometimes spotted, lacking appendages but often hairy on the upper surface, especially toward the base. Stamens 10, the filaments distinct. Staminodes absent. Pistil with 1 locule, the ovary appearing short-stalked. Styles 2, distinct, each with a stigmatic area along the inner surface. Fruits capsules, dehiscing by 4 short teeth. Seeds 40–100 or more, more or less oblong, flattened, the surface with minute papillae or a fine network of ridges, blackish brown, lacking wings or appendages. About 320 species, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, introduced nearly worldwide.

Each of the Dianthus species included here is native to Europe or western Asia and, with the exception of D. armeria, will most likely be encountered in Missouri as an escape from cultivation. Carnations have been popular garden plants and cut flowers for many years; however most species do not escape or become established in the wild.