''Zeltnera trichantha'' is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the 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 ...

''. It is referred to by the common name alkali centaury. It is endemic to northern California.

Description

''Zeltnera trichantha'' plants are up to 45 cm tall with ovate to lanceolate leaves up to 4 cm long. The inflorescence is flat topped and densely packed with small but showy pink flowers with five petals and a yellow to white throat.

Range and habitat

''Zeltnera trichantha'' is native to northern California, mostly in coastal hills and mountains and occasionally in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It often grows in alkaline vernal pools and saline flats, sometimes on serpentine soils.

References

trichantha ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – u ...

Taxa named by August Grisebach {{Gentianales-stub