Dianthus gracilis Sm. subsp. gracilis

Taxonomy: Fam. Caryophyllaceae// Genus: Dianthus// Species: Dianthus gracilis Sm.// Subspecies: Dianthus gracilis Sm. subsp. gracilis.

Determined according to the botanical key provided by (Micevski, 1993) and Tutin in Tutin et al. (1964).

Two subspecies of Dianthus gracilis Sm. occur in the Osogovo region: Dianthus gracilis Sm. subsp. gracilis and Dianthus gracilis subsp. armerioides (Griseb.) Tutin. Distinction between subspecies:

–Dianthus gracilis Sm. subsp. gracilis: Epicalyx-scales reaching up to c. 1/2 of the calyx length. Bracts very short, reaching the lower 1/3 of the calyx;

–Dianthus gracilis subsp. armerioides (Griseb.) Tutin: Epicalyx-scales reaching min 3/4 of the calyx length. Bracts conspicuously longer- as long as the calyx or almost so.

Lifeform: Perennial, sub-shrub; chamaephyte according to the Raunkiaer system.

Habitat: Found from the lowland up to mid-altitudes (c. 800-900 m) mainly on rocky substrates in open and semi-open habitats- dry grasslands, edges of forests, rocky terrains, river gorges.

Distribution: Native to the Balkan peninsula according to The Euro+Med PlantBase (Marhold, 2011+) and the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).

Flowering period: Summer. In favorable condition plans can be found in bloom from late June until October. Peak flowering occurs in July: JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP (-OCT).

References:

Dianthus gracilis subsp. gracilis. Marhold, K. (2011+): Caryophyllaceae. – In: Euro+Med Plantbase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published on the Internet. https://europlusmed.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/d41f88df-3180-48fc-8ce8-903380fe36d9 [Accessed 22.01.2023].

Dianthus gracilis subsp. gracilis. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77229077-1 [Accessed 22.01.2023].

Dianthus L. Micevski, K. (1993). The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia Vol. I, Book 2. Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, pp 360 – 390.

Dianthus L. Tutin, T.G. in Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M., & Webb, D.A. (1964). Flora Europaea. Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 188-204.