fringed pink

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Large Pink
• fringed pink

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Silene superba
• Caryophyllus superbus
• Dianthus fimbriatus subsp. superbus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Caryophyllaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Dianthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several parts of Europe. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in the territories of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Its presence extends further south into the central regions of the continent. Specifically, it is documented within the borders of Middle Europe in Austria. This range demonstrates its ability to inhabit diverse environments across both northern and central latitudes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dianthus superbus is characterized by its high adaptability to diverse montane environments, ranging from low-lying areas to high-altitude peaks. It occupies a broad elevational range, beginning at a minimum of 400 m AMSL and reaching a maximum of 3700 m AMSL, with a mean elevational occurrence of approximately 2225 m AMSL. This species thrives in a variety of specific habitats, including forests and forest edges, as well as mountain landscapes. Furthermore, it demonstrates significant niche flexibility within meadow ecosystems, capable of inhabiting both dry meadows and wet meadows, allowing it to persist across varying moisture gradients within its altitudinal distribution.

Elevational range max:

3700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2225 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, meadows: dry, meadows: wet, mountains

Life history

The life history of Dianthus superbus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions biologically as a hemicryphtophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by the seasonal litter or substrate. This species maintains an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than undergoing a complete seasonal shedding. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and hemicryptophytic structure enables the plant to endure varying environmental conditions while maintaining a consistent presence in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dianthus superbus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting and does not function as a climber or an epiphyte, nor does it exhibit any parasitic behavior, growing instead as an independent organism. Its shoot orientation is primarily ascending, contributing to a stature that typically reaches a mean height of 0.46 m, though individual specimens may vary in size ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.9 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.9 m

Plant height mean:

0.46 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dianthus superbus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on standard autotrophic processes for energy production. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining an average length of 6.25 cm. The leaves are relatively narrow, with widths fluctuating between 0.2 cm and 0.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 2.47 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 224.3 cm²/g, reflecting its specific leaf mass distribution and resource allocation efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.25 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

2.47 cm²

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

224.3 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dianthus superbus is characterized by a biotic pollination process that relies heavily on insects, specifically butterflies, to facilitate genetic exchange. The plant does not practice self-fertilization and lacks asexual reproduction methods, ensuring a dependence on cross-pollination. The flowering period typically begins in June and continues through September. During this time, the plant produces flowers with a length ranging from 2.3 cm to 2.5 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, which is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds are characterized by a mean mass of approximately 0.027072 g, with individual seed masses ranging between 1e-04 g and 1e-04 g. Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, where the seeds are spread primarily by the action of the wind.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower length max:

2.5 cm

Flower length min:

2.3 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

butterfly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

1e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.027072 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dianthus superbus has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-methoxydianthramide B, DS 1, Dianoside A, Dianthin E, Dianthin G.

4-methoxydianthramide B

1. Journal of natural products

DS 1

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Dianoside A

1. Dr. Duke

Dianthin E

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Dianthin G

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Dianthin H

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Quercetin 3-glucoside

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Quercetin-7-O-glucoside

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Dianthus superbus has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiviral, Cytotoxic.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Cytotoxic

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Conditions

Dianthus superbus has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include virus infection.

Virus infection

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Dianthus superbus has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include MeOH extract.

Meoh extract

1. Journal of natural products