Centaury

Centaurium erythraea / Erythraea centaurium

Centaury Common Centaury European Centaury Habitat and cultivation

Centaury - annual with erect, square stem from 15-30cm(6-12in) that branches near the top. The leaves at the base of the stem form a rosette; the stem leaves are smaller, pale green, lance-shaped and arranged in pairs at intervals. From late summer to mid-autumn the stem is crowned with clusters of attractive rosy pink, star-like flowers with yellow stamens.

Centaury is named after the famous centaur of Greek myth, Chiron. Half-human and half-horse, Chiron was a wise healer who is said to have discovered the medicinal use of plants. Erythrae is from a Greek word meaning red and refers to the color of the flowers. According to the early Celts, centaury brought luck, while Saxon herbalists recommended it for snake bites. During the Middle Ages it was considered a magical herb that had the power to ward off evil spirits. Centaury blossoms are carved on the tomb of the famous English poet, Wordsworth. For him, the flowers, which open only in fine weather, resembled the rising sun.

Bitterwort was an old English name for centaury and its  extreme bitterness led Culpeper to pronounce it 'very wholesome, but not very toothsome'. Like other members of the gentian family, to which it belongs, centaury contains several bitter compounds. These have a tonic effect on the digestive system via their beneficial action on the liver and gall bladder. Taken before meals centaury stimulates appetite; after meals it eases dyspepsia and heartburn. Indeed centaury's digestive properties have long been valued, especially in France and Italy. It is one of the bitter herbs used in vermouths, drunk as aperitifs to encourage the appetite or act on a sluggish liver. Centaury has also found its way from traditional herbalism to the more alternative system developed by Dr Edward Bach (1886-1936). Centaury, one of the 38 Bach Flower Remedies, is recommended for quiet people who are anxious to please and easily dominated by others.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Central European native, widespread from western Europe to western Siberia. Introduced elsewhere. Centaury is found in dry, grassy places, roadsides and chalky slopes.