? Sweet William
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Caryophyllaceae Genus: Dianthus Species: D. barbatus
Binomial name
Dianthus barbatus L.

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is a flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to the mountains of southern Europe from the Pyrenees east to the Carpathians and the Balkans. Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants Adiantum pedatum (a fern... Classes Magnoliopsida- Dicots Liliopsida- Monocots The flowering plants (also called angiosperms) are a major group of land plants. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class: this name is formed by replacing the termination -aceae in the name Magnoliaceae by the termination -opsida (Art 16 of the ICBN). ... Families Achatocarpaceae Aizoaceae (Fig-marigold family) Amaranthaceae (amaranth family) Ancistrocladaceae Asteropeiaceae Barbeuiaceae Basellaceae (basella family) Cactaceae (cactus family) Caryophyllaceae (carnation family) Dioncophyllaceae Droseraceae (sundew family) Drosophyllaceae Frankeniaceae Molluginaceae (carpetweed family) Nepenthaceae Nyctaginaceae (four-oclock family) Physenaceae Phytolaccaceae (pokeweed family) Plumbaginaceae (plumbago family) Polygonaceae (buckwheat family) Portulacaceae (purslane family) Rhabdodendraceae... Genera See text The Caryophyllaceae, the Pink or Carnation family, are a family of dicotyledons, flowering plants, included in the order Caryophyllales. ... Species About 300 species; see text Dianthus is a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native mainly to Europe and Asia, with a few species extending south to north Africa, and one species () in arctic North America. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as (help· info), and in English usually under the Latinized name Carolus Linnaeus (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), the name with which his publications were signed, was a Swedish botanist and physician who laid the foundations for the modern scheme... Classes Magnoliopsida- Dicots Liliopsida- Monocots The flowering plants (also called angiosperms) are a major group of land plants. ... Genera See text The Caryophyllaceae, the Pink or Carnation family, are a family of dicotyledons, flowering plants, included in the order Caryophyllales. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one. ... Central Pyrenees. ... This is about the terrestrial mountain range. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of south-eastern Europe. ...

It is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant growing to 40-70 cm tall, with green, blue-green or glaucous tapered leaves 4-10 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. The flowers are produced in a cluster at the top of the stems and have a spicy, clovelike scent; each flower 2 cm diameter with five petals with serrated edges; in wild plants the petals are red with a white base. This article is about the plants used in cooking and medicine. ... A Biennial plant is a plant that takes between twelve and twenty-four months to complete its lifecycle. ... A Red Valerian, a perennial plant. ... In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. ... Clivia miniata bears bright orange flowers. ...

Cultivation and uses

It was introduced to England in the sixteenth century and later, to North America. It is a popular ornamental plant in gardens, with numerous cultivars selected for differing flower colour, ranging from white, pink, red and purple or with variegated patterns. An ornamental is a plant variety that is grown for its beauty (in its end use), rather than commercial or other value. ... This Osteospermum Pink Whirls is a successful cultivar. ...

Its traditional use is in landscaping and cut flowers. Gerard praises its beauty but omits any reference to medicinal uses. Its height makes it convenient for flower arrangements. In the Victorian language of flowers, Sweet William symbolizes gallantry. The plant is a favorite for borders, meadows and rock gardens and is most at home in informal country cottage style gardens. Sweet William is a good candidate for a naturalistic garden because its nectar attracts birds, bees and butterflies. John Gerard John Gerard (1545 in Nantwich – 1611/12 in London) was an English botanist famous for his herbal garden. ... Purple lilac, symbolizing first emotions of love in the language of flowers. ...

Sweet William thrives in loamy, slightly alkaline soil with sun to partial shade. Propagation is by seed, cuttings or division but seeds of cultivars will not breed true. If it is planted from seed after the last frost, it will flower in the second year. If it is planted in flats before the last frost and then transplanted it may flower in the first year. Some gardeners recommend deadheading to encourage further flowering. The plant is self-seeding.

In 1977 the question of possible medical uses was revisited by Cordell. Saponins with antiinflammatory and analgesic effects were found in Sweet William. There has been little followup. Saponins are a class of glucosides found in plants. ...

Many legends purport to explain how Sweet William acquired its name, but none are verified. It is variously said to be named after Saint William of York, William the Conqueror, or Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. Another etymology is that william is a corruption of the French oillet, meaning little eye. Sweet William is a favorite name for lovelorn young men in English folkloric ballads. Saint William of York, (d. ... William I ( 1027 – September 9, 1087), was King of England from 1066 to 1087. ... Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (April 15, 1721–October 31, 1765), a younger son of King George II of Great Britain and Queen Caroline, was a noted military leader. ... Etymology is the study of the origins of words. ...