Centaurium spicatum
(L.)Fritsch.
Gentianaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Spiked Centaury
General Information
Centaurium spicatum is a Annual/Biennial up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- 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.
Range
S. Europe, Asia, Australia - all mainland states.
Habitat
Damp grassy or sandy places near the sea in S. Europe[
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- 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.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual/Biennial |
| Height | 0.60 m |
| Pollinators | Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
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- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
Stomachic (especially in cases of dysentery and diarrhoea)[
152- Title
- Australian Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T.
- Publisher
- New Holland Publishers
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 1876334703
- Description
- A very good and readable guide to the subject.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - sow late winter to May in situ or as soon as it is ripe in situ. The seed germinates in 3 - 8 weeks at 24°c.
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
