Desert Centaury, Tall Centaury, Western Centaury
Zeltnera exaltata
Synonym: Centaurium exaltatum
The photo above shows a close-up of the flower
western centaury. The corollas may range from creamy white to light pink and
may have 4 or 5 lobes. Photographed along K1000 to the east of the Mt. Adams
Highway.........July 9, 2006.
The photo above shows a sideview of the corolla
and upper stem leaves of western centaury. Note the long, narrow calyx lobes which helps distinguish this species from other members of the genus Centaurium.
The photo above shows the upper stem of western
centaury. Photographed along Road K1000.........July 9, 2006. Note the
long, narrow calyx lobes.
The basal leaves of western centaury are few in number and well
spaced, not forming a basal rosette. Likewise, the paired stem leaves are few
in number and generally widely spaced.
The photo above shows a close-up of western centaury as seen in a shoreline habitat near the Public Fishing Area at Conboy Lake National Wildlife Area.........July 16, 2008. The toothed leaves of Heterocodon rariflorum can be seen mixed with those of the centaury. Note that most of the western centaury flowers have 5 lobes to the corolla, but several have 4.
The photo above shows a close-up of the inflorescence of western centaury as seen in a shoreline habitat near the Public Fishing Area at Conboy Lake National Wildlife Area........July 16, 2008.
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The 3 photos above shows close-ups of the flowers and stem leaves of western centaury as seen in a shoreline habitat near the Public Fishing Area at Conboy Lake National Wildlife Area........July 16, 2008. Note the long, narrow calyx lobes.
Paul Slichter