Dianthus deltoides L.
Maiden pink
Maiden pinks are natives of Europe and western Asia. They have become naturalized in much of North America. The genus Dianthus translates to “divine flower.” The species, deltoides, means the Greek letter delta (Δ), perhaps a reference to the narrowly triangular leaves. There are many cultivated varieties of these plants, endless variations in size and color, especially reds. But natural pinks are pink, or occasionally lavender or white.
Plants: 6–18″ (15–45 cm) in height.
Leaves: Narrow, bluish, and grasslike, up to 1½ ⨉ ⅛″ (3.8 cm ⨉ 3.2 mm).
Flowers: Flowers are ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) across, bright pink (sometimes lavender or white), with five petals and ten stamens. Flowers have a starlike ring near the center, and petals have serrated tips. These pinks flowers from May to July.
Fruits: An oval to cylindric capsule ⅜–½″ (1.2–1.3 cm) long, open at the top with 4 teeth around the mouth. Inside are numerous tiny, blackish-brown seeds..
Habitats: Fields, roadsides, waste places.
 |
Maiden pinks are closely related to Deptford pinks. |
Online References:
Dianthus deltoides L. ssp. deltoides
7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Vermont · ≈ 9 × 6″ (21 × 14 cm) 
6/19/2017 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm) 
7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 1¾ × 2½″ (4.9 × 7.1 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
6/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/6/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (12 × 9.4 cm) 
I wonder how this managed to bloom in a mowed lawn. · 8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 2″ (5.5 × 5.1 cm) 
6/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Vermont · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 8.4 cm) 
7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm) 
7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 4″ (10 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/6/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 5″ (13 × 13 cm) 
6/19/2017 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 3″ (6.2 × 7.7 cm) 
7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Vermont · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Caryophyllidae | Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts |
| Order | Caryophyllales | Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants |
| Family | Caryophyllaceae | Pink or carnation family |
| Genus | Dianthus | From the Greek dios, “divine,” and anthos, “flower”: the divine flower or flower of Zeus |
| Species | deltoides | Shaped like the Greek letter “delta” (Δ) |
Dianthus deltoides description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.