 Photo ©
Carl Farmer |
Occasional in the south of the area, very rare north of Lochalsh (except in the Western Isles). In dry ground usually near the sea. Plants c 5-25 cm high. Flower diameter c 9-15 mm ID: Flower has 5 pink petals at the end of a long tube, which is surrounded by a calyx divided more than halfway into 5 long narrow teeth; 5 stamens with conspicuous anthers; leaves opposite, unstalked; stems and leaves hairless. Told from the rare Seaside Centaury (C littorale) by the leaves having 5 veins and rounded sides. C littorale has 1-veined leaves, more than 4 times as long as broad, with near-parallel sides. Other features: Flowers bunched together in tight heads, but dwarf specimens with few flowers often found. Stems ribbed. Leaves in a basal rosette as well as up stem, 3-veined. Anthers twist spirally after opening to release pollen. |