Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0865.JPG-06-25-2017
Flower name (scientific): Dianthus armeria Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) dy-AN-thus ar-MEER-ee-ah
Flower name (common): Deptford Pink
Family name (common): Pink
Family name (scientific): Caryophyllaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek dios meaning God, and from the Greek ánthos for flower, hence the divine flower, or the flower of Zeus.
    Specific epithet: Latinized from the old French name armoires for a cluster-headed dianthus.
Common name origin: Supposedly named for the location Deptford in South-East London, where the flower was purported to grow. The intense pink colororation of the flower probably contibutes to the common name. Dave Taft in a NY Times article (June 26, 2017), posits that "the name "pink" probably derives from the loosely serrated edges of the flowers petals (think "pinking shears" rather than the color pink)."
Flower description:
     Size: 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide.
     Petal count: 5 (flowers with 6 petals less common)
     Color: Pink with numerous white spots.
     Other: Showy flower.
Plant description: Erect
     Size: 8 to 24 inches (20 to 61 cm) tall.
     Stem hairy: glabrous or somewhat pubescent
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to about 10 cm long and about 3 mm wide.
     Color: medium green
     Hairy: margins ciliate mostly near the leaf base.
     Other: Shape: leaf, linear
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): June to August
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual to Biennial
Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields, prairies, waste areas, sun or part shade.
Fruit: Capsules about 10 to 16 mm in length.
Seed: Blackish colored, about 1.1 to 1.4 mm in length.
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Distinctive species with no close lookalikes when in bloom.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.795505
Longitude: -91.513513
Altitude: 271.60
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dane, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Pierce, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 2 homotypic synonyms for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 17 heterotypic synonyms for this species.
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): UPL
Wetland Status (MW): UPL