Centaury ID help

Milner_Ecology · #1 (**permalink**) 27-07-2011, 02:06 PM

Hi,
looking through some pictures I took on the dune slacks between Rhosniger and RAF Valley on Angelsey on 26th June 2009 I was wondering if anyone can id the following centaurys. I vaguely remember someone telling me the area supported common, seaside and lesser centaury from when I did some tern wardening here in 2001 for the RSPB but I may be wrong.

Not sure if this is a very small common centaury or lesser centaury (cant see any basal rosette)

also not sure if this is common or seaside centaury
flower

leaves

and another one just cos it's pretty!

Thanks in advance!

Ben

Dorts · #2 (**permalink**) 27-07-2011, 02:35 PM

Ben, in my opinion they are all Common Centaury.

1. is just one of the typical small plants of the Anglesey dunes.
2. is given away by the basal-rosette of leaves. In Seaside C. they are long, narrow, strap-like, yellowish and quite leathery. The flowers are a bluish-pink.
3. Typical Common C. flower. Lesser C. flowers are star-like with narrow, pointed petals.
Dorts.