Dianthus (Dianthus superbus or hybrid)
Best viewed large! Although there are over 300 species of Dianthus with common names like carnation and sweet william, this is a rarer flower with longer fringes, either originally found in Northern Germany and brought here, or hybridized here and looks like the native of Germany. I found this flower in a flower bed in west Austin, Texas. This flower is about 3 inches across.
Dianthus flowers were recognized early by the Greeks and named with the name meaning "god flower" (dios=god) and (anthos=flower). Dianthus is a perennial.
Interestingly enough, Wikipedia says the verb "to pink" which origianlly meant "to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern, may have come from the pattern on the edge of the dianthus petals, commonly seen on carnations. Then the term was probably expanded to describe the current pinking shears, which are used to create a saw tooth edge like a dianthus flower petal.
In the large view, you can see a tiny aphid-like insect on one of the petal tips on the right side of the flower.
Dianthus (Dianthus superbus or hybrid)
Best viewed large! Although there are over 300 species of Dianthus with common names like carnation and sweet william, this is a rarer flower with longer fringes, either originally found in Northern Germany and brought here, or hybridized here and looks like the native of Germany. I found this flower in a flower bed in west Austin, Texas. This flower is about 3 inches across.
Dianthus flowers were recognized early by the Greeks and named with the name meaning "god flower" (dios=god) and (anthos=flower). Dianthus is a perennial.
Interestingly enough, Wikipedia says the verb "to pink" which origianlly meant "to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern, may have come from the pattern on the edge of the dianthus petals, commonly seen on carnations. Then the term was probably expanded to describe the current pinking shears, which are used to create a saw tooth edge like a dianthus flower petal.
In the large view, you can see a tiny aphid-like insect on one of the petal tips on the right side of the flower.