Field gall (Centaurium erythraea)

branch full of pretty pink flowers

La Centaurium erythraea or gall of the field now was famous in Greece for curing various ills and wounds. Currently, this plant is still used as a medicinal herb and for cosmetic and food uses. There are many varieties with similar characteristics, so you have to be very attentive to their particularities.

It belongs to the herbal medicine that has managed to prevail until modernity. Its use was very famous for the treatment of gout, but perhaps its greatest medical miracle is the origin of its name. It has no problem developing in poor Mediterranean soils, where this species is not scarce.

Centaurium erythraea, the plant of mythological origin

two loose branches, one with open flowers and the other with closed flowers

The centaury is the common name of a species of annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the Centaurium family. Variety erythraea is easily confused with the centaurea centaurium It commonly grows in meadows and is popularly known as Centaurea minor.

This plant is native to the Mediterranean coasts and the most exact classification would be species from the centaurium family of the order Gentianaceae. The etymology of the name centaurium comes from the Greek and means centaury. Greek mythology attributes to the plant the medicinal powers that cured Chiron, the centaur son of Philira and Cronos. The term erytros means red and is attributed by the color of the flowers. This plant spreads along the Mediterranean coast and it can be easily found in the meadows and roads of three continents, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Features

La centaurium erythraea it is a plant that can measure up to 60 cm in favorable conditions. As usual, this grass reaches between 20 and 50 cm. The stem grows erect and branched at the top and is not circular in shape, but square.

It has a light green leaf with a smooth texture with a XNUMX to XNUMX cm basal rosette. The flower is reddish in color, with five petals and a calyx shorter than the corolla. The stamens protrude and are screw-shaped after pollen emission. The fruit is encapsulated and contains small seeds inside.

Uses and properties

This plant is very popular for its medical use, as it is rich in flavonoids, xanthones and iridoids. These components produce a bitter-tasting liquid that is proven to helps alleviate digestive problems. It has also been put to relatively effective use against baldness.

The cosmetic industry uses the plant to dye hair yellow. Pharmaceuticals know its antiseptic properties and apply them in topical medicines against stings, infections and wounds. It is also appreciated in the food industry as a bitter flavoring. It is important to know how to prepare them at home without exceeding the recommended dose. It should never be used during pregnancy, as it is contraindicated. It is also applied for eye infections and to clean the eyes when they generate secretions.

Cultivation and care

shrub that grows in dry soil with some small flowers

This is a slow growing plant and many of its properties are used while the plant is still young. It is recommended plant seedlings in controlled environments such as nurseries and then transplant to suitable ground and if you want to learn what are they for and how to grow themYou should know that it is something very simple to do.

At the time of transplanting it is advisable to do it with a separation of 50 cm between plants. It resists drought very well and the ideal is to keep the soil moist and with good drainage. The plant tolerates poor soils very well, being preferable to sow them in those with neutral, acid or alkaline pH. It can be exposed directly to the sun or with semi-shade. The seedlings do not resist frost.

Thanks to its rudimentary nature this plant is very resistant to pests and fungi. It is not known to have a tendency to suffer from any type of disease. Of course, it is very important to avoid excess water, as it can generate fungus. If a pest such as aphids is observed, it is best to treat it with natural pesticides.


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