GENTIANACEAE

GENTIAN FAMILY

James S. Pringle (except as specified)

Annual, perennial herb
Stem decumbent to erect, < 2 m
Leaves simple, cauline (sometimes also basal), opposite or whorled, entire, sessile or basal ± petioled; stipules 0
Flower bisexual, radial, parts in 4's or 5's, except pistil 1; sepals fused, persistent; petals fused, persistent or deciduous, corolla generally without fringes or scales on inner surface, sinuses between lobes generally unappendaged; stamens epipetalous, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, chamber 1, placentas parietal, often intruding
Fruit: capsule, 2-valved
Seeds many
Genera in family: ± 80 genera, 900 species: worldwide; some cultivated (Eustoma , Exacum , Gentiana )
Reference: [Wood & Weaver 1982 J Arnold Arbor 63:441–487]

CENTAURIUM

CENTAURY

James C. Hickman

Annual, biennial, erect, glabrous
Leaves opposite, often ± sheathing
Inflorescence: cyme or panicle-like
Flower: calyx lobes generally 5, ± linear-keeled, appressed to corolla; corolla salverform or funnel-shaped, generally pink, lobes ± entire, scales 0, sinus appendages 0; stamens generally ± exserted, dehisced anthers spirally twisted; style thread-like, stigma oblong to fan-shaped
Fruit ± cylindric-fusiform
Seed generally < 0.5 mm, ± rounded, ± brown, netted
Species in genus: ± 50 species: worldwide, except s Africa
Etymology: (Latin: centaur, mythological discoverer of its medicinal properties)
Variable and difficult; worldwide study needed.

Native

C. calycosum (Buckley) Fernald

Generally biennial?, generally 20–50 cm
Leaves: basal often rosetted, generally 15–70 mm, generally oblanceolate
Inflorescence open; pedicels 10–40 mm
Flower: corolla lobes 8–12 mm, generally rose-purple; undehisced anthers 3–6 mm; stigma lobes 1–2 mm when fresh, separately stalked, fan-shaped, spreading
Ecology: Uncommon. Damp places, especially riverbanks
Elevation: 50–100 m.
Bioregional distribution: e Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: to Colorado, Texas, Mexico
Flowering time: Apr–May
Intergrades with C. exaltatum & C. venustum in DMoj
Horticultural information: TRY.