Gentianaceae

Centaurium erythraea

Common Names: Common centaury

Plant Form: Erect annual or biennial rosette herb. Size: 15-50 cm tall. Stem: Usually just with one rectangular stem but often branched from rosette. Leaves: Oblong to elongated oval-shaped in rosette up to 6 cm long, smaller and narrower and becoming lance-shaped further up. Flowers: Light to dark pink with 5 petals in a star-like shape. In clusters with stalks usually at the same height like a candelabra. Fruit and Seeds: Capsule that splits open at the end to release seeds. Habitat: Grasslands, open woodlands, lawns, pastures, neglected areas. Distinguishing Features: Very difficult to distinguish from Slender centaury (Centaurium tenuiflorum). The most likely characteristic is that it often has shorter supporting petals (calyx) at the base of its flowers, covering half rather than two-thirds of the flower.