Centaurium grandiflorum (Pers.) Ronniger

Spice Flowers In the field

Family: GENTIANACEAE

Genus: Centaurium

Sinònims: Centaurium erythraea Rafn. subsp. majus (Hoffms. et Link) Laínz Centaurium erythraea Rafn. subsp. grandiflorum (Pers.) Melderis

Catalan common name: Centaura. Genciana. Herba de Santa Margarida.

Spanish common name: Centaura menor.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Lleida. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Rocky coastlines. Tree heather maquis and silicolous garigues. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic silicolous fields. Fields and humid soils.

Characteristics: An erect herbaceous plant with wide rosette of leaves at the base. The stem also has ovate, opposing leaves. The inflorescence is formed on the upper half of the stem forming a corymb of pink flowers. Can be differentiated form other species such as Centaurium pulchellum or Centaurium tenuiflorum, as these latter two either do not have a basal leaf rosette or are formed by very small leaves similar to those of the stem. Centaurium erythraea is also taller and more robust. Lives in the clearings of garrigues and pine forests. Flowers during the months of May and June.