Dianthus albens is a spreading or tufted herbaceousperennial, with semi-erect to upright stems reaching 35–40 cm, and with linear, opposite leaves.
The inflorescence is slender, leafless, and bears one-to-many white to purple flowers, in Spring, Summer and Autumn (Sept-Apr.).
The petals have entire or crenate tips (rarely shallowly dentate/toothed).[5]
The calyx is 12–18 mm in length, usually with 2 bract-pairs (sometimes with 1 or 3 bract pairs). The bracts have papery margins and reach max. 2/5 up the length of the calyx.[6]
When ripe, the seed capsule extends out beyond the calyx, by about 5 mm.[7]
↑Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town. p.460
↑Burtt Davy, J. 1922. XXXIII. A Revision of the South African Species of Dianthus. Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information 7. pp. 209-223. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
↑Curtis-Scott, O. (2020) Field Guide to Renosterveld of the Overberg. Penguin Random House, Cape Town. p.252
↑Hooper, S.S. 1959. The genus Dianthus in central and South Africa. Hooker's Icones Plantarum 37:1-59. Bentham-Moxon Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
