TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

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. davyi (Jeps.) Abrams

Annual 2–25 cm
Leaf 3–20 mm, generally ± elliptic
Inflorescence open; pedicels generally < 10 mm (some ± 0)
Flower: corolla lobes 3–7 mm, generally widely elliptic, overlapping, generally flat; undehisced anthers ± 1 mm; stigma lobes fan-shaped
Ecology: Moist coastal bluffs, dunes, open forest
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, w Central Western California, n Channel Islands (Santa Cruz Island).Relatively uniform
Horticultural information: TRY.

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for CENTAURIUM%20davyi being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Centaurium davyi
Retrieve dichotomous key for Centaurium
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California