centaury

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European centaury
• forking centaury
• Common Centaury
• Dumpy Centaury
• Centaury
• drug centaury

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Centaurium minus
• Chironia centaurium
• Gentiana centaurium
• Erythraea centaurium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Gentianaceae and the genus Centaurium. Specifically, its scientific name is Centaurium erythraeum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. It can also be found extending further north within the borders of Sweden. Moving toward the central part of the continent, the species is present in Middle Europe. Specifically, its distribution includes the country of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Centaurium erythraea is closely tied to the specific environmental conditions of the Campo de Altitude, where it thrives within these specialized high-altitude grassland ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 3300 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 2300 m AMSL. This wide vertical range allows the plant to occupy various ecological niches across different mountain gradients, though it remains characteristically associated with the unique climatic and soil profiles found in the Campo de Altitude habitats.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo de Altitude

Genetics

The genetics of Centaurium erythraea are characterized by significant cytological variability, as evidenced by its diverse chromosome numbers. Research indicates that the species exhibits multiple karyotypic configurations, specifically recording chromosome counts of 14, 20, 40, and 42. This variation in chromosome number suggests complex evolutionary processes, potentially involving polyploidy or chromosomal rearrangements, which contribute to the genetic diversity observed within the species.

Chromosome number :

14, 20, 40, 42

Life history

The life history of Centaurium erythraeum is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, meaning it typically completes its development over a period of two years. During its growth stages, the plant exhibits a life form that can be classified as both a hemicryptophyte and a therophyte, depending on its specific developmental phase and environmental adaptation. As a deciduous species, it sheds its foliage in accordance with seasonal changes, ensuring its survival through various climatic shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Centaurium erythraeum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it exhibits a variable height ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.1955 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.1955 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Centaurium erythraea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process optimized for moderate environments. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by a rosette leaf arrangement, where the leaves exhibit an oblong form. Morphologically, the leaves vary in length from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, with a mean width of 1.4 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 2.515 cm². These leaves possess a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 212.8 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area characteristics. Furthermore, the plant is non-carnivorous in its nutrient acquisition strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nitrogen uptake.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

rosette

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

2.515 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

212.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Centauriun erythraeum is characterized by a sexual, bisexual reproductive strategy, with the absence of asexual reproduction and a monocarp life cycle. The plant produces pink flowers arranged in a panicle inflorescence, which typically begins flowering in July and concludes in August. The pollination process is biotic, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscent capsules as its fruit type. These capsules typically measure between 0.7 cm and 0.8 cm in length, with a mean length of approximately 0.9 cm. Each capsule is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds themselves are minute, characterized by a consistent length of 0.2 mm and a volume of 0.019 mm³. The seed mass is extremely low, with a mean of 1.018e-05 g and a maximum of 2e-05 g. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind for distribution.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Inflorescence :

panicle

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

0.2 mm

Seed mass max:

2e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

1.018e-05 g

Seed mass min:

0 g

Seed volume max:

0.019 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Centaurium erythraea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, root.

Flower

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Centaurium erythraea has 61 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Gentiopicroside, SINAPIC ACID, Sweroside, ferulic acid.

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gentiopicroside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

SINAPIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Sweroside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ferulic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

p-coumaric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

protocatechuic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid

1. Dr. Duke

3-Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Planta

Amarogentin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Centaurium erythraea has 263 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Planta medica

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Centaurium erythraea has 20 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include urinary tract infections, Acute Kidney Injury, anticoagulant, cystitis, dental caries.

Urinary tract infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Acute kidney injury

1. Case reports in nephrology

Anticoagulant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cystitis

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Dental caries

1. Planta medica

Denture stomatitis

1. Planta medica

Diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hemorrhoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Centaurium erythraea has 14 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CE extract, Canephron® N, Centaurium erythraea methanol extract, Decoctions, aqueous extract.

Ce extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Canephron® n

1. Research and reports in urology

Centaurium erythraea methanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Decoctions

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Aqueous extract

1. Planta medica

Cell-free extracts

1. Planta

Chloroform

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Essential oils

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic and aqueous extracts

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology