Spiked Centaury

Scientific Name:	Centaurium spicatum
Status:	Native to all states and territories of Australia and New Calendonia	Spiked Centaury - plant Photo: A J Brown
Plant Description:	Erect hairless annual forb, 10-45 cm high, the stems branched towards the tips. Smooth, stalkless leaves, 1-3 cm long, elliptical or broadly or narrowly oblong to lanceolate, usually light-green, basal (sometimes forming a rosette) and in pairs on the stems. Flowers bright pink to red, tubular in the lower part, ending in 5 lobes, the tube and lobes longer than the 4-5 toothed calyx, which is 6-8 mm long, each flower borne on a stalk 2-5 mm long in leafy forked arrangements which are usually rather spike-like after the first branching as one branch of each subsequent fork is stronger than the other, the flower clusters borne at the ends of the branches. The fruit is a narrow-oblong capsule, enclosed by or slightly longer than, the persistent calyx. Flowers mainly during spring.
Habitat:	Heavy clay soils in Bladder Saltbush, Gidgee and Coolibah communities and sandy soils of lake shores.
Comments:	Although widespread, Spiked Centaury is rarely a common component of the pasture and usually occurs as scattered plants in the more favoured sites. It commences growth in winter and spring and continues while favourable conditions persist. Its pink flowers and lime green leaves make it conspicuous when in flower. It does not appear to be selectively grazed by stock.