Dianthus barbatus ssp. barbatus

General:
Perennial herb from a taproot; stems 1 or more, erect to decumbent, glabrous, 30-60 cm tall/long.

Leaves:
Basal leaves several, oblong-lanceolate, 7-9 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, glabrous; stem leaves opposite, 4-10 pairs, becoming lanceolate and only slightly reduced above, mostly 4-9 cm long, broadly short-stalked, the base sheathing; stipules lacking.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of 3-30 flowers in densely crowded clusters; petals 5, white to more usually pink or red, with narrow claws about equalling the calyces, the blade more or less egg-shaped, 6-10 mm long, wavy-toothed; sepals 5, green below and often violet above, united, forming a glabrous tube about 15 mm long, about 40-nerved.

Fruits:
Capsules oblong, 9-13 mm long, 4-valved; seeds compressed, concave on one side.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Dianthus barbatus subsp. barbatus