View text source at Wikipedia
Centaurium scilloides | |
---|---|
Centaurium scilloides photographed in France in 2009 | |
Scientific 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]
It is a perennial, herbaceous species, growing to a maximum height of 15 cm.[3]
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]
As of 2001, its conservation status in 'Endangered' according to the IUCN.[7]