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Centaurea cyanus

In cultivation.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

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Common names

cornflower

Biostatus

Exotic

Conservation status

Not applicable

Structural class

Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites

Flower colours

Blue

Detailed taxonomy

Genus

Centaurea

Family

Asteraceae

Authority

Centaurea cyanus L.

Endemic family

Ecology

Flowering

November, December

Fruiting

november, december, january,

Year naturalised

1875

Origin

S.E. Europe, Sicily

Other information

Etymology

centaurea: From the classical name kentaurion (Greek) or centaureum (Latin) in the fables of ancient Greece, which describe the plant healing the foot of Chiron, a centaur famed for his knowledge of medicine and astronomy.

cyanus: Dark blue, the Greek name for the cornflower

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