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desert centaury
Scientific Name: Centaurium exaltatum
Family: Gentianaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Desert Centaury (Zeltnera exaltata)
The plant commonly known as Desert Centaury, also referred to as Tall Centaury and Great Basin Centaury, belongs to the gentian family. Its accepted scientific name is Zeltnera exaltata.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant is a forb/herb, a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Accepted Scientific Name: Zeltnera exaltata (Griseb.)
- Synonyms: Centaurium exaltatum (Griseb.) W. Wight ex Piper, Centaurium namophilum var. nevadense, Centaurium nuttallii, Cicendia exaltata
- Family: Gentianaceae (Gentian Family)
- Genus: Centaurium, Zeltnera
- Species: exaltatum, arizonica, calycosum, namophilum, nuttallii
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
Common Names
- Desert Centaury
- Tall Centaury
- Great Basin Centaury
- Canchalagua
- Beautiful Centaury
- Charming Centaury
- Western Centaury
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to much of California, the southwestern United States (including the Sonoran Desert), and the Great Basin.
- Found in saline wet areas, along streams, and in moist, shady areas in the desert.
- Grows at elevations up to 6000 feet.
Morphological Characteristics
- A forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).
- Height ranges from 1.25 to 20 inches.
- Leaves are lanceolate, oblanceolate, or obovate, simple, and entire.
- Flowers are pink or magenta.
Traditional Uses
- The Miwok people used a decoction of the stems and leaves as a gastrointestinal aid for stomachaches.
Resources
- USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database