Common name: Common Centaury
Centaurium erythraea Rafn APNI* Synonyms: Centaurium minus Garsault APNI*
Description: Erect herb, mostly 15–50 cm high, with a well-developed persistent basal rosette.
Leaves obovate to oblong-elliptic or lanceolate, glabrous; basal leaves mostly 2.5–4 cm long, 10–20 mm wide; stem leaves mostly 1–3 cm long and 5–15 mm wide, decreasing in size up stem; sessile.
Compound cymes numerous, the whole inflorescence corymb-like. Calyx 4–7 mm long, half to two-thirds the length of the corolla tube. Corolla 12–15 mm long, light red to dark pink; lobes 5–6 mm long.
Capsule 7–9 mm long, enclosed in calyx.
Flowering: throughout year.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread, especially in pastures, south from the Nandewar Ra. Native of Eur.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *NWS
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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