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. muehlenbergii (Griseb.) Piper

Annual (or biennial if damaged), 10–90 cm, ± slender
Leaves: basal rosette 0 or weak; leaves 5–25 mm, ± oblong
Inflorescence dense; units generally ± flat-topped; flowers ± sessile (immediately subtended by 2 bracts)
Flower: corolla lobes 2–5 mm, pink, glabrous; undehisced anthers 1–2 mm; stigma oblong
Ecology: Common. Moist, open forest
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (especially Humboldt Co.), Cascade Range Foothills, n Sierra Nevada Foothills, s Sacramento Valley, n San Joaquin Valley, n&c Central Western California, n Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to Idaho, w Nevada
Synonyms: C. curvistamineum (Wittr.) Abrams; C. floribundum (Benth.) B.L. Rob
Variable; may also = C. pulchellum (Sw.) Druce & C. tenuiflorum (Hoffmanns. & Link) Fritsch of Eur. Often confused with C. erythraea
Horticultural information: IRR, SUN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.