Spiked centaury

Gentiana spicata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 230. 1753; Centaurium spicatum (Linnaeus) Fritsch

Herbs 4–55 cm. Stems 1–sev­eral, branching throughout. Leaves: basal often withered or absent by flowering; blade widely ovate to elliptic, 6–30 × 2–17 mm, apex obtuse to acute; cauline blades elliptic (proximal) to lanceolate (distal), (6–)10–30(–45) × 3–8(–12) mm, apex acute. Inflo­rescences with central flower at proximal 1 or 2 divi­sions, otherwise all or most flowers sessile or sub­sessile. Flowers: calyx (4–)7–11 mm; corolla 10–15 mm, lobes 3.5–5.5 mm; anthers 1–1.5 mm; stigmas 2, widely fan-shaped. Seeds dark reddish brown to black. 2n = 22 (Mediterranean region and Russia).

Flowering summer–early fall. Sandy borders of salt marshes; 0 m; introduced; Mass.; Eurasia.

In the flora area, Schenkia spicata is established only on the island of Nantucket, records from which span more than 150 years. It was formerly known from Maryland and Virginia.

Taxa sometimes treated as varieties or subspecies of Schenkia spicata (as Centaurium) were treated as dis­tinct species of Schenkia by G. Mansion (2004), whose treatment is followed here, and by some earlier authors. The plants in the flora area are S. spicata in the narrow sense.