Common centaurium, European centaury
Centaurium erythraea

Family: Gentianaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows for one or two years. It grows 15-50 cm tall. The leaves are in a ring at the base. The leaves at the base are oval to sword shaped and 3-4 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The leaves on the stem are 1-3 cm long and 5-15 mm wide. These do not have stalks and get smaller up the stem. The flowers are small and pink and tube shaped and like stars. The fruit is a capsule 7-9 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a temperate or Mediterranean plant. It grows up to 1,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Brazil, Bulgaria, Central America, Central Asia, Costa Rica, Estonia, Europe, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, North Africa, North America, Romania, Russia, Sicily, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Ukraine

How it is used for food

The flowers are used to flavour wine. The leaves are dried for tea. The aerial parts are used as an additive in beer. They are also used for tea. They are eaten raw as an appetizer.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves - flavouring, flowers - tea,spice, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Centaura, Cintoria, Ezerfu, Hierba amargosa, Kirmizi kantaron, Maasapp, Navadna tavžentroža, Poldhumalad

Synonyms

Centaurella dichotoma Delarbe; Centaurium capitatum (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Borbas; Centaurium corymbosum (Dulac) Druce; Centaurium latifolium (Sm) Druce; and several others