Practical
Plants

Centaurium erythraea

Centaury

an annual or biennial member of the Centaurium genus in the family Gentianaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual, biennial
Height
0.25 m
Spread
0.15 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is used as a flavouring in bitter herbal liqueurs and is an ingredient of vermouth[12].

Product or use
Condiment

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

One of the most useful bitter herbs, centaury strengthens digestive function, especially within the stomach[11]. By increasing stomach secretions it hastens the breakdown of food, it also stimulates the appetite and increases bile production[11]. The plant needs to be take over a number of weeks and an infusion should be slowly sipped so that the components (their bitterness can be detected at a dilution of 1:3,500) can stimulate reflex activity throughout the upper digestive tract[11]. The whole herb is appetizer, aromatic, bitter, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emetic, weakly febrifuge, hepatic, stomachic and tonic[14][4][8][5][12]. It acts on the liver and kidneys, purifies the blood and is an excellent tonic for the digestive system[13][9]. Externally, the fresh green herb is said to be a good application to wounds and sores[13]. It is often used in combination with other herbs such as camomile (Chamaemelum nobile), meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)[9]. The whole plant is harvested when in flower and can be dried for later use[13][9]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Weak willed', 'Too easily influenced' and 'Willing servitors'[7]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[14]. It is used in the treatment of liver and gall bladder ailments[14].

Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Bach
Product or use
Bitter
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Hepatic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A long-lasting bright yellowish-green dye is obtained from the flowers[4][2].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Sweden to the Mediterranean and east to S. W. Asia.
Habitat
Open woods, meadows and dry grasslands[14][4], often on chalky soils[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow February to May in situ or as soon as it is ripe in situ[6]. Germination is usually rapid.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained sandy loam with some peat[1] and a sunny position[9]. It avoids wet or rich soils[3]. Plants are not easy to grow in a garden[13]. The flowers only open in fine weather and close at midday[13]. Although the growing plant is scentless, if the cut stems are immersed in warm water for 24 hours a most penetrating odour will be observed on distillation[10]. A very variable plant, some botanists divide it into a number of separate species[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

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  3. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

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  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  7. Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985-00-00 ISBN 85207 002 0

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  8. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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  9. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  11. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  14. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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