About Dianthus bolusii Burtt Davy
Dianthus bolusii Burtt Davy is a tufted perennial plant that grows up to 40 centimeters tall. It produces linear blue-grey leaves, which measure a maximum of 200 millimeters long by 3 millimeters wide, and form a dense clump close to the ground. The inflorescence is typically branched, holding 1 to 8 flowers per stem, and rises approximately 20 centimeters above the main leaf tufts. Flowers range in color from cream to dark purple, and bloom from spring to summer, which corresponds to September to February in the Southern Hemisphere. The petals are oblanceolate, very deeply fringed, lacerate or fimbriate, and sometimes are strongly downcurved or drooping. Occasional specimens have darker red markings near the bases of their petals. The calyx is 23 to 27 millimeters long, and has 2 to 6 pairs of bracts. The bracts have narrow papery margins, and extend to about one third of the total length of the calyx. This species is indigenous to the Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa, where it grows on sandstone slopes. Its range extends from the Cederberg in the north, eastward to the Swartberg mountains, and southward to the Du Toitskloof mountains and the Swellendam area. In the western part of its range, it has been recorded from Skurweberg, Michell's Pass near Ceres, Tulbagh, and the area near Riebeek-Kasteel. In the southern part of its range, it has been recorded from the Sonderend and Buffeljags rivers in the Swellendam area. A possible outlying record exists from the mountains north of George in the far eastern portion of the species' range. The variety luteus, which is distinguished by its yellow-green flowers, has been recorded from Groot Drakenstein mountain near Paarl.
