''Centaurium'' (centaury) is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of 20

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

in the

gentian ''Gentiana'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family (Gentianaceae), the tribe Gentianeae, and the monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species it is considered a large genus. They are notable for their mostl ...

family (

Gentianaceae Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 103 genera and about 1600 species. Etymology The family takes its name from the genus '' Gentiana'', named after the Illyrian king Gentius. Distribution Distribution is cosmopolitan. Characteri ...

), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the

centaur A centaur ( ; grc, κένταυρος, kéntauros; ), or occasionally hippocentaur, is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse. Centaurs are thought of in many Greek myths as bein ...

Chiron In Greek mythology, Chiron ( ; also Cheiron or Kheiron; ) was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the "wisest and justest of all the centaurs". Biography Chiron was notable throughout Greek mythology ...

, famed in

Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities of ...

for his skill in

medicinal herbs Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for various functions, including defense and protection ag ...

. It is distributed across Europe and into Asia. Until 2004, ''Centaurium'' was given a much wider circumscription, comprising about 50 species ranging across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australasia and the Pacific. However this circumscription was

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of conver ...

, so in 2004 the genus was split in four, being ''Centaurium''

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular c ...

, '' Zeltnera'', '' Gyrandra'' and '' Schenkia''.

Species

* '' Centaurium barrelieri'' (Duf.) F. Q. & Rothm. * '' Centaurium bianoris'' (Sennen) Sennen * ''

Centaurium calycosum ''Centaurium calycosum'' is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common name Arizona centaury. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in moist places in otherwise dry habitat ...

'' (Buckley) Fernald * '' Centaurium capense'' Broome * '' Centaurium centaurioides'' (Roxb.) Rolla Rao & Hemadri * '' Centaurium chloodes'' (Brot.) Samp. * '' Centaurium davyi'' (Jeps.) Abrams * ''

Centaurium erythraea ''Centaurium erythraea'' is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names common centaury and European centaury. Description This is an erect biennial herb which reaches half a meter in height. It grows from a sm ...

'' Rafn * '' Centaurium exaltatum'' (Griseb.) W. Wight ex Piper * '' Centaurium favargeri'' Zeltner * '' Centaurium gypsicola'' (Boiss. & Reut.) Ronniger * '' Centaurium littorale'' (D. Turner) Gilmour * '' Centaurium mairei'' Zeltner * '' Centaurium majus'' (Hoffmgg. & Link) Ronniger * ''

Centaurium malzacianum ''Centaurium'' (centaury) is a genus of 20 species in the gentian family (Gentianaceae), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur Chiron, famed in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs. It is di ...

'' Maire * ''

Centaurium maritimum ''Centaurium'' (centaury) is a genus of 20 species in the gentian family (Gentianaceae), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur Chiron, famed in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs. It is di ...

'' (L.) Fritch * ''

Centaurium pulchellum ''Centaurium pulchellum '' is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common name lesser centaury, or slender centaury. It differs from ''Centaurium erythraea'' by lacking basal rosette of leaves and by having a develope ...

'' (Sw.) Druce * ''

Centaurium quadrifolium ''Centaurium'' (centaury) is a genus of 20 species in the gentian family (Gentianaceae), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur Chiron, famed in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs. It is di ...

'' (L.) * '' Centaurium scilloides'' (L. fil.) Samp. * '' Centaurium serpentinicola'' A. Carlström * '' Centaurium somedanum'' Lainz * ''

Centaurium suffruticosum ''Centaurium'' (centaury) is a genus of 20 species in the gentian family (Gentianaceae), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur Chiron, famed in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs. It is di ...

'' (Griseb.) Ronniger * ''

Centaurium tenuiflorum ''Centaurium tenuiflorum'', the slender centaury, is a species of annual herb in the family Gentianaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and simple, broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 17 cm tall. Sources References ...

'' (Hoffmgg. & Link) Fritsch * ''

Centaurium turcicum ''Centaurium'' (centaury) is a genus of 20 species in the gentian family (Gentianaceae), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur Chiron, famed in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs. It is di ...

'' (Velen.) Ronnige

References

External links

Gentian Research Network
{{Taxonbar, from=Q157703 Gentianaceae genera Flora of Europe

Species

See also

References

External links