Centaury, Common
Centaurium erythraea Fr: Petite centaurée commune
Gallery of 5 photos for Centaury, Common
A very variable short-to-medium plant, usually with a single hairless stem, branching above the mid point. The roots can be boiled to make a brew that helps digestion (but it's very bitter).
Flowers. May-July
Flower. Pink to bright pink, nearly purplish, opening wide in bright sunshine, in lax-to-dense flat-topped clusters.
Leaves. Basel leaves oval or elliptical, to 50 mm long, forming a rosette. Stem leaves are paired, narrower, with 3 prominent veins.
Habitat. Dry grassy areas and scrub, roadsides; garrigue, usually on calcareous soil.
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