Centaurium
Encyclopedia
Centaurium is a genus
of 20 species
in the gentian
family (Gentianaceae
), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur
Chiron
, famed in Greek mythology
for his skill in medicinal herbs. It is distributed across Europe and into Asia.
Until 2004, Centaurium was given a much wider circumscription, comprising about 50 species ranging across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australasia and the Pacific. However this circumscription was polyphyletic, so in 2004 the genus was split in four, being Centaurium sensu stricto, Zeltnera, Gyrandra and Schenkia
.
Under the older circumscription, the common name for plants in this genus was Centaury. It is not yet clear how this name will be applied under the new circumscription: whether for the same set of plants regardless of the taxonomic changes, or for the new circumscription of the genus Centaurium.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of 20 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in the gentian
Gentian
Gentiana is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Gentian family , tribe Gentianeae and monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species, it is considered a large genus.-Habitat:...
family (Gentianaceae
Gentianaceae
Gentianaceae are a family of flowering plants of 87 genera and over 1500 species. Flowers are actinomorphic and bisexual with fused sepals and petals. The stamens are attached to the inside of the petals and alternate with the corolla lobes. There is a glandular disk at the base of the gynoecium,...
), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
Chiron
Chiron
In Greek mythology, Chiron was held to be the superlative centaur among his brethren.-History:Like the satyrs, centaurs were notorious for being wild and lusty, overly indulgent drinkers and carousers, given to violence when intoxicated, and generally uncultured delinquents...
, famed in Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
for his skill in medicinal herbs. It is distributed across Europe and into Asia.
Until 2004, Centaurium was given a much wider circumscription, comprising about 50 species ranging across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australasia and the Pacific. However this circumscription was polyphyletic, so in 2004 the genus was split in four, being Centaurium sensu stricto, Zeltnera, Gyrandra and Schenkia
Schenkia
Schenkia is a genus of flowering plants in the gentian family, Gentianaceae. It is sometimes included in the genus Centaurium.-Selected species:*Schenkia australis G.Mans....
.
Under the older circumscription, the common name for plants in this genus was Centaury. It is not yet clear how this name will be applied under the new circumscription: whether for the same set of plants regardless of the taxonomic changes, or for the new circumscription of the genus Centaurium.
Species
- C. barrelieri (Duf.) F. Q. & Rothm.
- C. bianoris (Sennen) Sennen
- C. calycosumCentaurium calycosumCentaurium calycosum is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common name Arizona centaury. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in moist places in otherwise dry habitat, such as riverbanks. This is an erect biennial herb...
(Buckley) Fernald - C. capense Broome
- C. centaurioides (Roxb.) Rolla Rao & Hemadri
- C. chloodes (Brot.) Samp.
- C. davyiCentaurium davyiCentaurium davyi is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common name Davy's centaury. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the coastline around the San Francisco Bay Area and areas north, as well as from Santa Cruz Island, one of the Channel Islands. It...
(Jeps.) Abrams - C. erythraeaCentaurium erythraeaCentaurium erythraea is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names common centaury and European centaury. This centaury is a widespread plant of Europe and parts of western Asia and northern Africa. It has also naturalised in parts of North America and throughout...
Rafn - C. exaltatumCentaurium exaltatumCentaurium exaltatum is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common name desert centaury. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia to Arizona to Nebraska, where it grows in moist areas, generally with alkaline soils. This is an annual herb which...
(Griseb.) W. Wight ex Piper - C. favargeri Zeltner
- C. gypsicola (Boiss. & Reut.) Ronniger
- C. littorale (D. Turner) Gilmour
- C. mairei Zeltner
- C. majus (Hoffmgg. & Link) Ronniger
- C. malzacianum Maire
- C. maritimum (L.) Fritch
- C. pulchellum (Sw.) Druce
- C. quadrifolium (L.)
- C. scilloides (L. fil.) Samp.
- C. serpentinicola A. Carlström
- C. somedanum Lainz
- C. suffruticosum (Griseb.) Ronniger
- C. tenuiflorum (Hoffmgg. & Link) Fritsch
- C. turcicum (Velen.) Ronnige
See also
- Zeltnera muehlenbergii - formerly C. muehlenbergii
- Zeltnera namophilaZeltnera namophilaZeltnera namophila is a rare species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common name spring-loving centaury. It is endemic to Ash Meadows in Nye County, Nevada. It has been seen just over the border in California, but no occurrences are currently confirmed there...
- formerly C. namophila - Zeltnera venusta - formerly C. venustum