Centaurium erythraea
Centaury ( Centaurium erythraea )
The Real centaury ( Centaurium erythraea ) ( Syn: . Centaurium erythraea L., centaurium minus auct, centaurium Gilibert umbellatum ) is a form- rich flowering plant in the genus of Tausendgüldenkräuter ( centaurium ). The Real centaury was named the 2004 Medicinal plant of the year.
Description
These one-to two -year herbaceous plant reaches a height of up to 50 cm. The basal leaves form a rosette and the ganzrandigen leaves on hollow stems are decussate.
The inflorescence is a loose cyme. The fivefold, hermaphroditic flowers have a diameter 9-15 mm. The five sepals are fused; the calyx is 4-7 mm long, half to two-thirds as long as the corolla tube. The five most bright pink colored, rarely whitish petals are fused Roehrig, the Corolla lobe are 5-6 mm long. It's just a circle with five stamens present. The main flowering period extends from June to September, the flowers open only in sunshine. Pollination is by bees, flies and beetles. The 7-9 mm long capsule fruit is enclosed by the calyx.
Ecology
The Real centaury is an annual, winter annual or sommerannuell to two years of half- rosette plant. The flowers are " pollen - stick plate flowers " and only open in the sun and at least 20 degrees C. Instead of nectar " anbohrbare tissue" are offered. The anthers protrude from the flower. The pens are of different lengths ( heterostyly ). It is rich in insects visit place, inter alia, by moths. Maybe self-pollination is possible. The life of a flower is about five days. The fruits are bivalve, enclosed by the calyx capsules. The dead plants are wind spreader. In addition, the seeds are probably verschwemmt even in the rain. There are light to germinate.
Dissemination
The strictly protected rights centaury is of course common in most of Europe with the exception of the north-western Scandinavia. It is scattered in front on sunny, semi- dry to moderately moist meadows and forest clearings up to altitudes of over 1200 m.
After Ellenberg the species is a plant light, intermediate, a freshness and a pointer Klassencharakterart the Forest Glade corridors and thickets ( Atropetalia ).
Usage and important ingredients
The diverse medical drug used (dried, aerial parts of the flowering plant ) has the following important ingredients such as bitter substances, flavonoids, xanthones and phenolic acids.
The Real centaury was formerly used in folk medicine for diseases of the liver and gall bladder, as well as fever.
The Commission E can help with loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints infusion of bitter-tasting crushed drug drug. The contraindications are stomach and intestinal ulcers.
Plant parts are components of some herbal liqueurs.
Naming
The German name centaury is' thousand guilders worth " derived from, which reflects the importance of this plant.
Other common names for the real thing centaury are bitter herbs, Erdgallenkraut, God's grace herb Feverfew, Hundertgulden herb, lauric, stomach herb, Red Aurin, Sanktorikraut.