Dianthus zeyheri

Dianthus zeyheri, commonly the wild carnation, is a perennial growing from a carrot-like root and woody stem base to heights around 80 cm.

The opposite, also decussate leaves are narrowly lance-shaped, grass-like and blue green to grey green and hairless. They are present on the lower stem parts, clasping the stems. The leaf dimensions are from 2 cm to 9 cm long and from 2 mm to 12 mm wide.

The species distribution is in the east and the north of South Africa, from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to all the provinces north of the Vaal River, as well as some neighbouring countries. The photo was taken near the Sani Pass.

The habitat is sandy grassland, from the coast to elevations around 2300 m. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).