Centaurium venustum
Encyclopedia
Zeltnera venusta is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family
known by the common name charming centaury and canchalagua. This centaury is native to California
and southern Oregon
, where it grows in many habitats up to elevations around 1300 meters. It is an annual wildflower rarely reaching half a meter in height. The pointed oval leaves grow opposite on the thin stems. The inflorescence
is tipped with one or more showy star-shaped flowers, each with a white-centered magenta corolla about 2 centimeters wide.
Until 2004 it was placed in genus Centaurium
as Centaurium venustum.
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,...
known by the common name charming centaury and canchalagua. This centaury is native to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, where it grows in many habitats up to elevations around 1300 meters. It is an annual wildflower rarely reaching half a meter in height. The pointed oval leaves grow opposite on the thin stems. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is tipped with one or more showy star-shaped flowers, each with a white-centered magenta corolla about 2 centimeters wide.
Until 2004 it was placed in genus Centaurium
Centaurium
Centaurium is a genus of 20 species in the gentian family , tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur Chiron, famed in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs...
as Centaurium venustum.