About Centaurium erythraea Rafn
This upright biennial herb, Centaurium erythraea Rafn, grows to a height of half a meter. It develops from a small basal rosette, producing a leafy, upright stem that may branch. Its triangular leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem. Upright inflorescences emerge from the stem and grow parallel to it, sometimes tangling with the foliage. Each inflorescence can hold many flowers. The small flowers are pinkish-lavender, roughly one centimeter across, with a flat face and yellow anthers. Its fruit is a cylindrical capsule, and it flowers between June and September. This species is widespread across Europe (including Scotland, Sweden, and Mediterranean countries), as well as parts of western Asia and northern Africa. It has become naturalized as an introduced species in parts of North America, New Zealand, and eastern Australia. It typically grows in fields and along roadsides. European centaury is most commonly prepared as a tisane for traditional medicinal use.
