[The Gentian Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Desert Centaury, Great Basin Centaury, Tall Centaury, Western Centaury

Centaurium exaltatum

Synonyms: Centaurium namophilum var. nevadense, Centaurium nuttallii, Cicendia exaltata, Zeltnera exaltata

Desert Centaury, Great Basin Centaury, Tall Centaury, Western Centaury: Centaurium exaltatum (Synonyms: Centaurium namophilum var. nevadense, Centaurium nuttallii, Cicendia exaltata, Zeltnera exaltata)

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.

Desert Centaury, Great Basin Centaury, Tall Centaury, Western Centaury: Centaurium exaltatum (Synonyms: Centaurium namophilum var. nevadense, Centaurium nuttallii, Cicendia exaltata, Zeltnera exaltata) - Desert Centaury, Great Basin Centaury, Tall Centaury, Western Centaury: Centaurium exaltatum (Synonyms: Centaurium namophilum var. nevadense, Centaurium nuttallii, Cicendia exaltata, Zeltnera exaltata)

The photo at left shows a sideview of the corolla and upper stem leaves of western centaury. The photo at right shows the upper stem of western centaury. Photographed along Road K1000.........July 9, 2006. Note the long, narrow calyx lobes. .

Desert Centaury, Great Basin Centaury, Tall Centaury, Western Centaury: Centaurium exaltatum (Synonyms: Centaurium namophilum var. nevadense, Centaurium nuttallii, Cicendia exaltata, Zeltnera exaltata)

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.

Paul Slichter