CENTAURIUM MARITIMUM

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

Common Name:- Yellowcentaury

Homotypic Synonyms:- Chironia maritima, Erythraea maritima, Gentiana

maritima, Thylacitis maritima.

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

knowledge of herbs.

Maritimum (L) Growing by the sea, maritime, of the sea.

General description:- Annual or biennial

Stem:-

1) Solitary, simple or branched above, 10-20 cm, with a caducous basal leaf-

rosette.

Leaves:-

1) Sessile, rather fleshy 0·6-2 x 0·3-0·6 cm, elliptic-oblong, increasing in length

upwards.

2) Lower two, very small and not forming a distinct rosette.

3) Upper, much longer.

Flowers:-

1) 20-25 mm yellow, rarely tinged with purple, pedicellate.

2) Calyx, 3/4 as long to nearly as long as the corolla-tube.

3) Corolla-lobes, elliptical, subacute.

4) Stamens inserted at the apex or in the upper 1/3 of the corolla-tube.

Key features:-

1) Annual or biennial without non-flowering shoots.

2) Leaves, sessile.

3) Corolla, yellow, rarely slightly tinged with purple.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats, open dry shrubby vegetation, fallow terraces, mostly on

non-calcareous substrates. 0-600 m. sometimes to 1000 m.

Distribution:- Scattered in W Greece, and the Ionian Islands. Widespread across

the Mediterranean region. Sporadic appearance on Crete, mainly in the west.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to June.

Photo by:- Fotis Samaritakis