| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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]
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 |
Annual 10–35 cm
Leaf 10–30 mm, ± oblong, acute
Inflorescence open; pedicels 10–50 mm
Flower: corolla lobes 3–7 mm, generally inrolled and appearing ± linear, not overlapping, white to rose; undehisced anthers ± 1 mm; stigma lobes fan-shaped
Ecology: Moist, generally alkaline scrub
Elevation: generally < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin Floristic Province, Mojave Desert, w edge Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: to e Washington, Utah
Flowering time: May–Aug
Synonyms: C. namophilum Reveal, C.R. Broome & Beatley var. nevadense C.R. Broome, Nevada centaury
CA (not NV) plants that have been considered C. n. var. namophilum , spring-loving centaury, THREATENED US, with denser inflorescence, from e DMoj (Ash Meadows), are apparently all C. exaltatum
Reference: [Holmgren 1984 Intermtn Flora 4:5–6]
Much variation apparently environmental.