3. Dianthus orientalis Adams. in Weber & Mohr. Beitr. Z. Naturk. 1:54. 1805. Schisckhk. in Kom., FI.URSS.6:854. 1936; Mizushima in Kitam., Fl. Afghan. 111. 1960; Reeve in Davis, Fl. Turk. 2:120. 1967; Stewart, l.c. 243.
SHAHINA A. GHAZANFAR & YASIN J. NASIR
Perennial, 30-50 cm, with a branched creeping woody stock. Stems slender, many, erect. simple, woody at the base. Leaves basally congested, 10-40 x 0.5-1 mm, glabrous with a ciliate base and margin, linear, apex acute, almost spiny. The cauline leaves adpressed to the stems. Bracteoles 6-8, reaching to ΒΌ the calyx length, ovate, acute to mucronulate with a hyaline margin. Flowers solitary, terminal. Calyx 22-28 mm, contracted at the mouth; teeth lanceolate, acute; with a hyaline ciliate margin. Petal rose-red, limb c. 8 mm, exserted, fimbriate, barbulate, claw exserted.
Fl. Per.: July-August.
Type: Georgia, in Iberiae c. Tiflisium, locis cretaceis, Adams.
Distribution: N. W. Africa, Syria, Turkey, Caucasus, N. Iran, Afghanistan & Pakistan.
A common species in Chitral, Gilgit, Swat, Baltistan, on dry rocky slopes from 2130-2430 m.
