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Dianthus armeriastrum Wolfner

Flora Europaea (treated as a subspecies of Dianthus armeria L.) biennal, T, 2n= 30, diploid mesoxeric, from the forest steppe to the lower nemoral belt north Balkan-Pannonian Festuco-Brometea R34 habitats         This species becomes very rare day after day, unnoticed. It is very hard to be found and the known populations get weaker and weaker until they totally disappear. Only a few localities from Transylvania and Moldavia are known for sure at this time in Romania. The taxon is certainly not a subspecies of the common Dianthus armeria L. and is considered so due to the physical resemblance only; however the ranges of the two overlap in Hungary and Romania and there are no hybrids or intermediate forms reported. Also the flowers of D. armeriastrum Wolfner are much larger and more beautiful resembling at a smaller scale (1/3), the ones of the famous in Romania Dianthus callizonus Schott, Nym. et Kotschy (see here, here and here). Podeni, Bagin Hill area, Cluj county, 3rd of October 2009. A population which was very strong in the 80s of the XXth century now is present only as two small patches consisting both of less than 10 individuals. dr. Alexandru Badarau, alexandru@transsilvanica.com \ \