Deptford Pink
Dianthus armeria
Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)

Click on an image for a higher resolution photograph.

All photos taken at the Klein Prairie -- Murrayville, Illinois, USA

Description: This adventive annual or biennial plant is about 1-2½' tall and very slender in appearance. It branches sparingly above the widely spaced pairs of leaves. The stems are slender, round, and stiff. They have patches of fine white hairs beneath each opposite pair of leaves, otherwise they are mostly glabrous. The opposite leaves are up to 3" long and 1/8" across. They are linear (although wider at the base), sessile, and usually slightly pubescent. The base of each pair of leaves wraps around the stem in a sheath, where the stem is somewhat broader and knobby. The upper stems terminate in small clusters of pink flowers. The flowering stalks (peduncles) are more hairy than the stems, otherwise they are similar in appearance. Each flower is about 1/3" across, consisting of 5 spreading petals, a tubular green calyx with 5 teeth, 10 stamens with pink anthers, and 2 styles. The petals are pink with small white dots. Each petal is wedge-shaped at its base, and crenate or dentate toward its outer edge. The pubescent calyx is about ¾" long. It has about 10-22 fine nerves running along its length. There are usually 3 narrow leaf-like bracts that are about as long as the calyx at the base of the flower. Each cluster of flowers and bracts often have V-shape. Each flower is replaced by an elongated seed capsule containing numerous seeds. Each seed is orbicular or reniform and flattened with small bumps across its surface. The root system consists of a slender taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.

Cultivation: This species usually grows in full sunlight in mesic to dry conditions. It appears to flourish in a clay-loam or gravelly soil that is somewhat compacted and heavy.

Range & Habitat: The Deptford Pink is fairly common in Illinois, except for some central and NW areas of the state, where it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). This species is adventive from Europe and is becoming more common in disturbed areas. Habitats include pastures, abandoned fields, areas along roadsides and railroads, paths along the edge of woodlands that are irregularly mowed, grassy meadows with a history of disturbance, and miscellaneous waste areas. This species declines in high quality habitats because it isn't competitive with many broad-leaved perennial forbs.

Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers likely attracts small butterflies, skippers, long-tongued bees, and bee flies. This is implied by the long tubular calyx and the restricted opening at the throat of the flower, although I have not seen very many insects visiting the flowers. Short-tongued bees may collect the pollen, while flower flies undoubtedly feed on the pollen – the latter group of insects is unlikely to be effective at pollination. The foliage of members of the Pink family tends to be high in saponins and unattractive to mammalian herbivores. In pastures, livestock probably eat this insubstantial species along with the surrounding grass.

Comments: The Deptford Pink has attractive flowers, but they are quite small. This plant is easy to overlook until it begins blooming. The Deptford Pink is fairly easy to identify in the field because of the appearance of the flower petals: they are usually more narrow than the petals of other Dianthus spp., their outer edges are toothed, and they have small white dots across the surface. The flowers of this species are smaller in size and less showy than the flowers of Dianthus spp. (Pinks) that are commonly cultivated in flower gardens. The common name refers to an area of England where this species was once common.

Source: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/deptford_pink.htm 

The text above is Copyright © 2002-2005 by John Hilty.  All photography on this site is © 2005 - 2006 by Kevin Klein.  Photo quality prints and permission for image use may be obtained by contacting the photographer at kklein@ic.edu.