Centaurium erythraea
Gentianaceae
June to October
It is found throughout the country except for the Pennines.
See the BSBI distribution map for Common Centaury
It grows in a range of grasslands, heaths, open woodland,
scrub, quarries and spoil heaps, and by roads, footpaths
and tracks.
Common Centaury is a native, mainly biennial, herb
which can grow up to 50cm but may be as short as 2cm.
Flowers are pink, up to 15mm and in clusters.
They are 5-merous with the corolla tube inserted into a
shorter calyx.
The 5 stamens are bright yellow and become twisted
on fruiting.
The style is filiform and has 2 round, creamy yellow
stigmas.
Stems are branched towards the top of the stem.
Leaves and stems are glabrous (hairless) and
light green.
Leaves are extended ovals.
Stem leaves are slightly larger higher up the stem.
There is a basal rosette of leaves, which is more
obvious early on in the season.
There is a dwarf form found in coastal turf, which is
only a few cms in height.
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Common Centaury, West Bay,
West Dorset
Flat flowerhead
Close-up of flowers, anthers, styles and stigmas
Flower buds and stamens with twisted anthers
Sessile or subsessile flowers
Basal rosette of leaves
and stem branching towards the top
Basal rosette of leaves early in the season
Stem leaves
Dwarf form, Cogden Beach, Dorset
Stamens and round bifid stigmas of dwarf form
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