Centaurea cyanus L.

Spice In the field

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Centaurea

Catalan common name: Blauet.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona.

Distribution in the islands: Menorca.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Dry cultivated soils.

Characteristics: An annual herbaceous plant that can be sporadically found in grain fields, It is characterized by its capitulum, with metallic blue flowers that stand out from the surrounding predominant greens and yellows of these fields. The interior flowers of the capitulum are in colours of red. Leaves are grey and linear. Flowers in May.