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Centaurium spicatum

Common name:		Family:	Gentianaceae
Author:	(L.)Fritsch.	Botanical references:	1, 50
Synonyms:	Erythraea spicata (L.), Erythraea australis, Centaurium australe
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	S. Europe, Asia, Australia.
Habitat:	Damp grassy or sandy places near the sea in S. Europe[50].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Spiked Centaury [B,P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	spica = spike; spicatum = in spikes;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Gentianales. Gentian family

Physical Characteristics

Annual/Biennial growing to 0.6m. . The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies and beetles. The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Stomachic.

Stomachic (especially in cases of dysentery and diarrhoea)[152].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though it should succeed as a spring sown annual in this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Prefers a well-drained sandy loam with some peat[1].

Propagation

Seed - sow February to May in situ or as soon as it is ripe in situ. The seed germinates in 3 - 8 weeks at 24°c.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Gentianaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[152] Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.
A very good and readable guide to the subject.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Centaurium+spicatum
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Centaurium+spicatum

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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.