Dianthus transvaalensis Burtt Davy

Perennial herb, up to 0.45 m high; erect, not densely tufted, glabrous, usually with a tuft of leaves at base of inflorescence axis. Shoots: vegetative few, green or glaucous, internodes very short; flowering several, crowded with a tuft of long leaves at base. Leaves with blade linear, 60-170 x 1-2 mm, tapering from base to a slender, acute apex, margins ciliate at base, 5-or 7-veined, striate sheath 1.5-2.0 x leaf-width. Flowers: (2-)5(-11) in 1-several terminal inflorescences; bracts linear; calyx shortly cylindrical mm long; petals elliptic or narrowly obovate, 6-10 mm long, tapering gradually into a claw, antical margin dentate or crenulate, white or pink; Oct.-Feb.