CENTAURIUM TENUIFLORUM

Family and Genus:- See- GENTIANACEAE/Sect. CENTAURIUM

Common Name:- Slender centaury

Homotypic Synonyms:- Centaurium pulchellum subsp. tenuiflorum,

Centaurium pulchellum var. tenuiflorum, Erythraea latifolia var. tenuiflora,

Erythraea pulchella subsp. tenuiflora, Erythraea ramosissima var. tenuiflora,

Erythraea tenuiflora.

Meaning:- Centaurium (L) For the centaur, Chiron, who was said to have a wide

knowledge of herbs.

Tenuiflorum (L) With narrow flowers, slender-flowered.

General description:- Annual, without or with a weak basal leaf-rosette.

Stem:-

1) 15-25(-40) cm, with 5-9 internodes, branched above; branches strict.

Leaves:-

1) Cauline, 1-2·5 x 0·8-1 cm, ovate to elliptical, obtuse to subacute, increasing in

length upwards.

Flowers:-

1) 12-14 mm, in a more or less dense dichasial cyme.

2) Inflorescence, of 2-90 flowers.

3) Pedicels, at least 2 mm.

4) Calyx, nearly equalling the corolla-tube.

5) Corolla-lobes, deep pink, entire at the apex. usually 3-4 mm.

6) Corolla-tube, not constricted below the limb.

Fruit:-

1) A septicidal capsule, valves remaining attached.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Saline coastal habitats, seasonally damp patches in dry open shrubby

vegetation, fallow fields etc. 0-1100 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece but rare in the interior north. - Widespread in the

Mediterranean area, W Europe and SW Asia to Afghanistan. Widespread across

Crete.

Flowering time:- Mid-Apr to early July.

Photos by:- Giorgos Pantakis