Facts: 1. New research reveals that the flowers 300 species emerged at a record rate. 2.

Hawaiis isolation and complex geography, for example, has given rise to about 23,000 indigenous species, whereas the rich resources and year-round warmth of South Americas rainforests have produced countless other. 3. But then, he noticed that Europe had an usually hugh number of carnation species: nearly a third of the worlds varieties. 4. So Valente and colleagues at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and botanist from several countries, spent 2 years collecting DNA from both living plants and herbarium samples of more than 100 species of the carnation genus, known as Dianthus. 5. Based on the age of fossil of Dianthuss closest ancestor, a 45-million-year-old caryophyllaceae tree unearthed in Tasmanis in 2003, the researchers calculated that the genus first appears as early as 7 million years ago. 6. Then, sometime between 1.3 million and 2 million years ago, carnation speciation exploded. 7. Europe seems to have been the hot spot, with a whooping 80 new species emerging in the Mediterranean Basin. 8. Valente says he isnt sure why carnations suddenly boomed, but he notes that the profusion coincides with a well-knoqn climate dhift thath rocked Europe 2 million years ago. Types: 1. Large flowered carnations 2. Spray carnations (mini carnations) 3. Dwarf carnations How to grow: 1. Decide where you want to grow the carnations. A sunny, well drained site is of utmost importance. Heavily shaded areas with poor drainage is usually fatal to the plant. Make certain the soil doesn't have too much acid as carnations like a slightly alkaline soil. 2. Prepare the site in late summer. Wood ash or lime mixed in the soil will give the slight alkalinity that carnations crave. Wood ash also provides potassium and is better to use, if available. Scatter 4 handfuls per square yard to the area. Add fertilizer to the soil. 3. Set out new stock in the early fall or mid fall to allow the rooting system to develop for faster growth in the spring. 4. Plant border carnations between 9 and 15 inches apart. The wider the distance, the stronger the growth. 5. Bury the carnations covering no more than 1/4 of the stem. Pack the soil down firmly.

6. Water the plants well during dry weather. 7. Stake the carnations as they grow to prevent being knocked down during a rain or wind storm.