Dianthus cruenthus Griseb. (syn. Dianthus cruentus subsp. turcicus (Velen.) Stoj. & Acht.)

Taxonomy: Fam. Caryophyllaceae// Genus: Dianthus// Species: D. cruenthus Griseb.

Determined according to the botanical keys provided by Tutin in Tutin et al. (1964) and Micevski (1993) as Dianthus cruentus subsp. turcicus (Velen.) Stoj. & Acht. in Stoj. & Stefanov, Fl. Bǎlg., ed. 3, 405 (1948). Two subspecies are distinguished within D. cruentus – subsp. cruentus and subsp. turcicus. Currently, both taxa are not accepted at the subspecies level in The Euro+Med Plantbase (Marhold, 2011+), and are considered synonyms of Dianthus cruentus Griseb. Other taxa, such as Dianthus brachyzonus Borbás & Form. subsp. brachyzonus and Dianthus hyalolepis Acht. & Lindtner are also considered synonyms of Dianthus cruentus Griseb.

Both forms of D. cruentus occur in the Osogovo region. However, the species shows high morphological variability and populations may have variable mix of characteristics that tend towards either of the two extremes (mainly length of awns and hairiness of petals). Therefore, similar to the treatment in The Euro+Med Planbase, its best to treat all these forms under Dianthus cruentus Griseb. Mountain-wide, the populations tend more towards subsp. cruentus, with note that even in this form the petals are generally bearded, and variation of awn length also occurs. A population close to subsp. turcicus was recorded only on one location so far. Distinction between forms:

subspecies cruentus: calyx purple or purplish-red, epicalyx scales brown, the awn usually longer than the scale reaching the tip of the calyx (variable character across the Osogovo region). Corolla purple, glabrous according to literature data, but very often bearded in the populations from the Osogovo region. Widespread, found from 600 up to c. 1700 m altitude.

subspecies turcicus: calyx greenish-purple, epicalyx scales straw colored or whitish, often with purple awn. The awn equal or shorter than the scale, not reaching the tip of the calyx. Corolla pinkish-red. Not a very common form, recorded from one location so far.

Lifeform: Perennial; Hemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiær system.

Distribution: Balkan Peninsula to Iran according to the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew). Data for Dianthus cruentus Griseb.

Habitat: In the Osogovo region Dianthus cruentus subsp. turcicus is known from one locality only – mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and the gorge of “Orizarska” River, at c. 800 – 900 m altitude, in clearings and edges of oak forests.

Flowering period: Late spring-early summer: JUN, JUL.

References:

Dianthus cruentus Griseb. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:153271-1 [Accessed 07.08.2025].

Dianthus cruentus. Source: Marhold, K. 2011+: Caryophyllaceae. – In: Euro+Med Plantbase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published at https://europlusmed.org/ https://europlusmed.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/0d7a7fe3-0a97-4e71-8273-f88b633a1f29 [Accessed 07.08.2025].

Dianthus L. Micevski, K. (1993). The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia Vol. 1, 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..