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slender centaury
Scientific Name: Centaurium tenuiflorum
Family: Gentianaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Slender Centaury (Centaurium tenuiflorum)
Centaurium tenuiflorum, commonly known as Slender Centaury, is an annual herb belonging to the Gentianaceae family.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Centaurium tenuiflorum (Hoffmanns. & Link) Fritsch
- Family: Gentianaceae (Gentian family)
- Nomenclature Reference: in Mitt. Naturwiss. Vereins Univ. Wien nov. ser., 5: 97. 1907
Distribution and Habitat
- Slender Centaury is native to certain regions. One specific location mentioned is South Pelion, Greece, where it has been spotted in a prairie by a riverbank.
- It is described as exceptionally rare in the UK, found at only one locality on undercliffs in West Dorset.
- It can be found on bare, often damp, grassy open ground.
Morphological Characteristics
- Slender Centaury is an annual herb, growing up to 35cm tall, but usually shorter, barely reaching 15cm.
- Flowers are usually white and occasionally pink.
- The flowers are arranged in a dense manner.
- A related species, yellow centaury, is a tiny slender plant with fleshy pinkish-green stalks.
Related Species
- Mention is made of Lesser Centaury (C. pulchellum), Common Centaury (C. erythraea), and Seaside Centaury, all of which are native.
- Zeltnera muehlenbergii, also known as Muhlenberg's centaury, is a species native to western North America.
Further Information
- The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) provides help and information on Centaurium tenuiflorum.
- EDDMapS provides distribution maps, although they may be incomplete.