carnation

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Clove Pink
• Wild Carnation
• border carnation
• divine-flower
• gilly-flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tunica caryophyllus
• Tunica morrisii
• Silene caryophylla
• Dianthus caryophyllus subsp. coronarius
• Dianthus caryophyllus var. wakefieldii
• Dianthus caryophyllus var. carduinus
• Dianthus morrisii
• Dianthus moschatus
• Dianthus caryophyllus var. minor
• Dianthus miniatus
• Dianthus longicaulis
• Dianthus caryophyllus f. intermedius
• Dianthus kayserianus
• Dianthus multinervis
• Dianthus arrectus
• Dianthus acinifolius
• Dianthus arbuscula
• Dianthus caryophyllus var. coronarius
• Dianthus coronarius
• Dianthus corsicus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Caryophyllales and the family Caryophyllaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Dianthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be observed within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in both Germany and the region of Czechia-Slovakia. The distribution extends further into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits France. Finally, the plant is also documented growing in Spain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dianthus caryophyllus is characterized by its presence in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), where it often thrives in environments influenced by human activity and cultivation. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, with its elevational range spanning from a minimum of 1400 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. This distribution suggests an adaptation to montane or subalpine conditions, requiring specific temperature and atmospheric profiles found within these middle-to-high altitude gradients.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1400 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Dianthus caryophyllus is characterized by its classification as a perennial, though its growth pattern can be variable depending on environmental conditions and cultivation practices. As a perennial species, the plant is capable of surviving for multiple growing seasons, establishing a robust root system that allows it to regrow annually. While it primarily functions as a long-lived perennial, its development may exhibit biennial tendencies in certain climates or under specific stressors, where the plant focuses on vegetative growth in its initial stages before transitioning to reproductive maturity. This variability in its lifecycle allows the plant to adapt to different seasonal shifts, ensuring a sustained presence in its habitat through repeated cycles of foliage development and flowering.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dianthus caryophyllus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial, self-supporting plant that functions independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.9 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.5375 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.9 m

Plant height mean:

0.5375 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dianthus caryophyllus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. The vegetative morphology is defined by its narrow, linear leaves, which exhibit significant variability in dimensions depending on environmental conditions and developmental stages. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 9 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 14 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width is notably slender, with a mean width of 0.3 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm. These morphological traits, combined with its C3 metabolism, reflect the plant's specialized physiological adaptations for resource acquisition and growth.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

0.4 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dianthus caryophyllus is characterized by a highly consistent seed profile and specific dispersal mechanisms. The seeds produced by this plant exhibit a uniform mass, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all measured at 0.002 g, indicating a lack of significant variance in individual seed weight. In terms of its reproductive strategy, the plant primarily utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to facilitate the movement of its seeds away from the parent plant. This wind-driven process is the dominant method for spreading the species across its environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.002 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dianthus caryophyllus has 4 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root, stem.

Flower

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Frontiers in plant science

Leaf

1. Frontiers in plant science

Root

1. Frontiers in plant science

Stem

1. Frontiers in plant science

Chemicals

Dianthus caryophyllus has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include eugenol, Anthocyanins, BENZYL BENZOATE, BENZYL SALICYLATE, Cyanidin 3-glucoside.

eugenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Anthocyanins

1. Dr. Duke

BENZYL BENZOATE

1. Dr. Duke

BENZYL SALICYLATE

1. Dr. Duke

Cyanidin 3-glucoside

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

HEPTACOSANE

1. Dr. Duke

Isolychnose

1. Dr. Duke

Kurarinone

1. Frontiers in plant science

Lychnose

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Dianthus caryophyllus has 134 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antitumor, Acaricide, Aggregant.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
3. Frontiers in plant science

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anaphrodisiac

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Dianthus caryophyllus has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include wounds.

Wounds

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Dianthus caryophyllus has 2 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, extracted essential oils.

Essential oils

1. Life sciences

Extracted essential oils

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology