CENTAUREA 



(From the Greek kentauros, a centaur, the herb being said to have cured a wounded centaur) 



Composite 



105. Centaurea montana 



English Names: Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Bluebottle, Bachelor's 

 buttons. Blue bonnets, Mountain knapweed, Com centaury, Break-your- 

 spectacles. 



EUROPE JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 



1ARGE, flat blue flowers which turn purple as they grow old, two or 

 -i more inches in diameter, resembling the cornflower, profusely car- 

 ried on erect unbranching stems one to two feet high. The leaves are 

 pointed-oval and, when 

 young, downy white. 

 Compact dwarf plants, 

 good for the herbaceous 

 border and for cutting. 



A hardy perennial of 

 easy culture in any good 

 garden soil. Prefers sun. 



Var. alba. Similar to 

 the type with white 

 flowers. Excellent 

 though sometimes rather 

 grayish in color. 



Var. rosea. Similar 

 to the type, rose-colored 

 flowers. 



Var. citrina {sul- 

 -phurea). Flowers yellow 

 with brown centres, not 

 so good as the type. 



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