Centaurium scilloides

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Centaurium scilloides
Centaurium scilloides photographed in France in 2009
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Centaurium
Species:
C. scilloides
Binomial name
Centaurium scilloides

Centaurium scilloides, also known as perennial centaury is a flowering plant in the family Gentianaceae. It is native to Atlantic Europe (England, western France and the northwestern Iberian Peninsula) and the Azores. Plants from the Azores have white flowers (as opposed to pink) and are genetically different with some treating it as a different species.[1][2]

Description[edit]

It is a perennial, herbaceous species, growing to a maximum height of 15 cm.[3]

Habitat and distribution[edit]

Centaurium scilloides is found on coastal cliffs and dunes grassland.[4] It grows all along the Atlantic coast of Europe.

It became extinct in England in 1967, but held on in Wales, and there are recent sightings of it in the south of England.[5][6]

Conservation[edit]

As of 2001, its conservation status in 'Endangered' according to the IUCN.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Centaurium scilloides (L.f.) Samp". Flora-On. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  2. ^ Prieto, José Antonio Fernández; Cires, Eduardo; Pérez, René; Bueno, Álvaro (1 December 2012). "A new endemism for the Azores: the case of Centaurium scilloides (L. f.) Samp". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 298 (10). Springer Science+Business Media: 1867–1879. doi:10.1007/s00606-012-0687-4. S2CID 254048642. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. ^ Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora - Centaurium scilloides
  4. ^ Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora - Centaurium scilloides
  5. ^ "The Species Recovery Trust - Lost Life". Archived from the original on 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  6. ^ The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland
  7. ^ Natural History Museum London - Centaurium scilloides