DIANTHUS SPHACIOTICUS

Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Subgen. DIANTHUS

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Dianthus (Gr) Zeus'-flower. a name used by the Greek philosopher

Theophrastus.

Sphacioticus (Gr) Damaged-looking, of gangrened appearance.

General description:- Small, hairless perennial.

Stems:-

1) A stout, vertical woody stock producing several short, non-flowering shoots and

a few procumbent to ascending.

2) Usually simple flowering stems 3-10(-15) cm.

Leaves:-

1) Basal and those of non-flowering shoots oblong-lanceolate to narrowly elliptical,

subobtuse, rather thick, greyish-green to glaucous.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary.

2) Epicalyx-scales, usually 6, c. 1/3 as long as the calyx; outer ovate and leaf-like;

inner obovate, cuspidate.

3) Calyx, 14-18 mm, tapering from below the middle.

4) Petal-limb, 3-4 mm, obovate, subentire to dentate, hairless, pale pink, bearded.

Fruit:-

Key features:-

1) Leaves on the flowering stems narrower than on non-flowering stems, shorter

than the internodes.

2) Stock stout.

3) Calyx tapering upwards from below the middle.

Habitat:- Rocky flats and calcareous screes, 1700-2200(-2400) rn, with Hypericum

trichocaulon, Lomelosia sphaciotica, phaglalon pygmaeum, etc.

Distribution:- Endemic to the Lefka Ori. Rare.

Flowering time:- Late June to mid-Aug.

Photos by:- Christopher Cheiladakis

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable (V) according to the Red

Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece (1995).

Vulnerable (V) according to IUCN 1997.

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981.