[Joanna Savage]

I think this is Centuarium erythraceae growing through a ground cover of Satureja montana. I first saw it here about ten years ago, then it disappeared. Presumably its habitat had been destroyed. This year two plants have reappeared in rather tough places.
The interesting snippet is that Centaurium belongs to family Gentianaceae, while the much better known Centaurea belongs to the very different family Asteraceae. How could the names be so close? The 'cent' suggests 100 and the 'aurea' gold. Any corrections and ideas welcome.
Closer photo of flower to follow.

[Joanna Savage]

Centaurium erythraceae flower, it is tiny

[John J]

Joanna, they are both derived from the same source, the Centaurs of Greek mythology. Centaurium is alleged to be good for healing wounds. Chiron the Centaur is said to have used it on a wound in his foot that was caused by one of Heracles arrows.

[JTh]

We have another Centaurium growing in profusion around our house, the tiny C. pulchellum, most of them around ten cm tall, but with many small, starshaped, pink flowers. They are really beautiful.

 
_7041889_ Centaurium pulchellum.jpg by JorunT, on Flickr


_7041892_ Centaurium pulchellum.jpg by JorunT, on Flickr

[Joanna Savage]

Well, John J you have cleared up something I have wondered about for years. I should have guessed the association but didn't think laterally. Of course once I know the origin comes from 'centaur', it seems so obvious.

Excellent photos Jorun. Are they taken in Greece or Norway?

[JTh]

They are from our place in northern Greece, the area around the house is mainly wild flower meadow in spring, then mown, and bone dry the rest of the summer, so I think it is surprising that there are so many of them here now. It supposedly likes damp or marshy ground, it is definitely not like that here.