Author: آمنه غلامی 
Dianthus macranthoides Hausskn. ex Bornm.
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Sara Nikkhah and Ardeshir Ashrafi
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at July 2025
Scientific editor: Masoumeh Izadpanah
Seed Storage
The storage behavior of this species is orthodox (desiccation-tolerant seeds), dry to 15-20% eRH, and store at -20°C.
Germination requirements
The seeds of this species are not dormant. Sterilize seeds before placing them on wet germination paper. Place seeds for two weeks at 4 ºC to germinate uniformly. Then germinate under an alternating temperature regime of 15/20 ºC (the higher temperature for 16 hours in light and the lower one for eight hours in dark).
Morphology
Fruit type: Capsule
Fruit size:
Seed shape: Obovoid to ellipsoid, dorsal view slight convex, its central part wrinkly in longitudinal rows, ventral view concave, with a distinct longitudinal ridge and a hilum, apex beaked. Surface covered with tiny beam-arranged papillae, dull, blackish-brown to black
Seed size: Length 4.42 to 4.67 mm, width 2.12 to 2.32 mm in an accession from Khorramabad, Lorestan, with 1000 seeds weight 2.5 g, which was collected and identified in 2016 by Ardeshir Ashrafi, and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with the accession number 46067.
Average 1000 seed weight: 2.5 g
Biological features
Life form: Perennial, woody at the base. Stems numerus, ascending, 25 to 35 cm in height
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Flowers solitary, terminal; calyx gamosepalus, sylendrical, 40 to 50 mm long; corolla petaliferous, petals white to pale pink, with ciliate margin. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects and wind.
Time of flowering: Mid-spring
Time of seed ripening: Late spring
Seed dispersal methods: Seed weight
Geographical distribution: Endemic to Iran. Typus from Lorestan, Ashtrankoh
Distribution in Iran: West and center. Mostly from provinces Lorestan, Isfahan, Bakhtiari, Fars and Kerman
Taxonomy
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Dianthus
Species: D. macranthoides
Persian name: Mikhak-e sefid
References and Links
Asadi, M., Fadaei, F., Tawakli, Z., Heydari Rikan, M., Mostafavi, G., Mahdavi, M., Poursakhi, K. and Nejad Flatori, A. 2023. Flora of Iran. Charyophyllaceae. Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Iran, Publication, No. 168, 987 pp.
Black, M. and Bewley, J.D. 2000. Seed technology and its biological basis. Sheffield Academic Press, 1-419 P.
Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of seeds and fruits of central and East-European flora: the Carpathian Mountains region. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1046 P.
Ghahraman, A. Flore of Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands with University of Tehran Publication. https://floraofiran.net/index.php.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 1998. Dictionary of Iranian plants names. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 671 P.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 2012. A Pictorial dictionary of botany. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 1088 P.
Sharma, O.P. 2009. Plant taxonomy 2E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi, 563 P.
