Centaurea diluta Ait. Ait.

Spice Bracts detail Flower

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Centaurea

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Castelló. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean (Iberico-north african)

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Path and road sides.

Characteristics: An erect herbaceous plant that can grow over a half metre in height. Characterized by its decurrent leaves on the stem. The flowers are large and purple, 3 to 6 cm. in diameter. The medial involucral bracts have a very characteristic membranous apical appendix with 1 to 3 small apical spines and shortly decurrent for the margins of the bracteal body.