90 
NATURE STUDY NOTES 
Trailing for great lengths and often twining around 
obstructions. 
FLOWER—5 pale purple petals, separate except 
for vase-shaped nectary—usually one flower on 
each stem. Sepals, hair-like and tender. Odour, 
faint, pleasant. 
/ 
STEM—Fairly long—1 to 1| inches, joining the 
plant stem at the same point as a leaf. 
NOTE—Sometimes used in large gardens to 
cover an unsightly bank or outbuilding. 
CENTAURY 
GENERAL—Also called “Red Centaury.” Very 
common in pasture paddocks as isolated plants or 
in small clusters. Does not thrive in poor soil. 
Height, 1 foot to 18 inches. 
LEAVES—Relatively small and insignificant. 
Position, in opposite pairs, a pair of leaves growing 
at the point where a flower-stalk joins the main 
stem. Stalkless and hairless. 
♦ 
FLOWERS—Growing in small clusters, each 
cluster growing at the top of a short stalk, two or 
three of which join a much longer branch stalk. 
Petals, 5, bright reddish-pink. Size of flower, about 
^ inch diameter. 
STEMS—Very erect, square-shaped and hairless. 
NOTES—Flowers, although small, are attractive, 
and, on account of relatively small leaf growth, are 
easily seen. 
