SafePlants

Centaurium erythraea: Common Centaury and Its Many Names

Centaurium erythraea, belonging to the gentian family (Gentianaceae), is widely recognized by its common names, including common centaury and European centaury. This unassuming herb has garnered attention throughout history and across various cultures.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Centaurium erythraea
• Family: Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)
• Synonyms:
  • Centaurium minus
  • Centaurium umbellatum
  • Erythraea centaurium

Common Names

Beyond common and European centaury, this plant boasts a rich collection of alternative common names, reflecting its diverse historical uses and regional significance:

• Red Centaury
• Filwort
• Centory
• Christ's Ladder
• Feverwort
• Bitter Herb
• Bitter Bloom
• Bitter Clover
• Bitter-Rose
• Chironia
• Fel Terrae
• Gentian
• Lesser Centaury

Distribution and Habitat

Centaurium erythraea is native to a broad geographical area:

• Native: Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, and east through Eastern Europe to the Middle East and Pakistan.
• Introduced: North and South America.

It thrives in woodlands and sunny mountain slopes.

Morphological Characteristics

• Centaurium erythraea is described as a small, erect, branching annual or biennial herb.
• It features pink, star-like flowers that typically bloom between June and September in Britain.

Quirky Facts

• The plant is featured on a postage stamp from Yugoslavia dating back to 1956, highlighting its historical recognition as a medical herb.

Traditional Uses

• Historically, Centaurium erythraea has been used as a general tonic to strengthen both the liver.
• It has also been used traditionally for medicinal purposes and has been evaluated by the European Union for use in herbal medicines.