Zeltnera

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Zeltnera
Zeltnera venusta.jpg
Canchalagua (Z. venusta)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Tribe: Chironieae
Subtribe: Chironiinae
Genus: Zeltnera
G.Mans
Species

about 25; see text

Zeltnera is a genus of flowering plants in the gentian family. It was erected in 2004 when the genus Centaurium (the centauries) was split. Genetic analysis revealed that Centaurium was polyphyletic, made up of plants that could be grouped into four clades. Each became a genus. Centaurium remained, but it is now limited to the Eurasian species. The Mexican species now belong to genus Gyrandra , and the Mediterranean and Australian plants are in genus Schenkia . The new name Zeltnera was given to this genus, which contains most of the North American centauries. There are about 25 species. [1] [2]

Plants of this genus are annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial herbs. They are taprooted or have fibrous root systems. They produce one or more branching stems which are often ridged and sometimes winged. The leaves are gathered around the lower stem or arranged along the length of the stem. They vary in shape, from linear to lance-shaped to oval, and are green or yellowish. The inflorescence is variable in arrangement. The flower has a tubular throat that opens into a flat corolla with four or five lobes. It may be any shade of pink or white, and the throat is usually paler, to white or yellowish, or occasionally patterned with green. The fruit is a small capsule containing up to 700 minute seeds. Zeltnera and Centaurium species differ mostly in the morphology of the style and stigma, as well as the shape of the fruit capsule. [1]

Zeltnera can be subdivided into three groups, a division which is supported by DNA evidence but is most obvious in terms of geography. They are casually named the "Californian group", the "Texan group", and the "Mexican group". The first group is distributed from British Columbia south through the West Coast of the United States and into Baja California. The "Texan" plants occur from Arizona to Oklahoma in the US and throughout northern Mexico. The "Mexican group" occurs in Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. The range may extend north into Arizona. [1]

Genus Zeltnera was named for the Swiss botanists Louis and Nicole Zeltner, who have researched Centaurium and other gentians. [1]

Species include: [1] [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

Gentianaceae Family of flowering plants comprising gentians

Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 103 genera and about 1600 species.

<i>Centaurium</i> Genus of flowering plants in the gentian family Gentianaceae

Centaurium (centaury) is a genus of 20 species in the gentian family (Gentianaceae), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae. The genus was named after the centaur Chiron, famed in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs. It is distributed across Europe and into Asia.

Centaury is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

<i>Sabatia</i> Genus of plants

Sabatia, the rose gentians, is a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants in the family Gentianaceae, native to eastern and central North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Zeltnera beyrichii, commonly known as mountain pink, quinine weed or rock centaury, is an annual that blooms from late spring to early fall. Used as a medicinal plant by pioneers, the flowers were dried and used to reduce fevers.

<i>Schenkia sebaeoides</i>

Schenkia sebaeoides, known as ʻĀwiwi in Hawaiian and lavaslope centaury in English, is a rare species of flowering plant. It is endemic to low shrublands in the state of Hawaiʻi in the United States. It is present on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and Maui. At the time it was added to the endangered species list of the United States in 1991 it was known from seven populations for a total of fewer than 1000 individuals. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Centaurium erythraea</i> Species of flowering plant

Centaurium erythraea is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names common centaury and European centaury.

<i>Zeltnera venusta</i> Species of plant

Zeltnera venusta is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names California centaury, charming centaury and canchalagua. This centaury is native to much of California, southern Oregon, and northwest Baja California.

<i>Zeltnera muehlenbergii</i> Species of plant

Zeltnera muehlenbergii is a species of annual herb commonly known as Monterey centaury and Muhlenberg's centaury. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California and Nevada, where it commonly grows in forests and other moist places. This is an annual herb growing thin, erect, branching stems to heights anywhere between 10 centimeters and one meter. Oval-shaped leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem and are up to 2 or 3 centimeters long. The branching inflorescence bears many flowers, each with small bracts at its base. The flower has five oval-shaped petallike lobes each a few millimeters long.

<i>Schenkia spicata</i> Species of plant

Schenkia spicata is a species of annual herb in the family Gentianaceae. It has a very wide old world distribution, ranging from north Africa, through Europe and into Asia.

<i>Schenkia australis</i> Species of plant

Schenkia australis is a species of annual herb in the Gentianaceae family. It is endemic to Australia.

<i>Centaurium exaltatum</i> Species of plant

Centaurium exaltatum is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names desert centaury and tall centaury. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia to Arizona to Nebraska, where it grows in moist areas, generally with alkaline soils. This is an annual herb which is variable in appearance, especially in different habitat types. It grows up to about 35 centimeters in height, its slender stem with widely spaced pairs of oppositely arranged, pointed leaves 1 to 3 centimeters long. The inflorescence is an open array of flowers, each on a pedicel which may be several centimeters in length. The flower has generally four or five white or pink lobes, each somewhat rolled to appear narrow in shape.

<i>Schenkia</i> Genus of plants

Schenkia is a genus of flowering plants in the gentian family, Gentianaceae. It is sometimes included in the genus Centaurium.

<i>Zeltnera namophila</i> Species of flowering plant

Zeltnera namophila, known by the common name spring-loving centaury, is a rare species of flowering plant in the gentian family. It is endemic to the Amargosa Valley, in Nye County, southwestern Nevada.

<i>Sebaea</i> Genus of plants

Sebaea is a genus of annual plants in the family Gentianaceae. Species occur in Africa, Madagascar, India, China, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. The genus was paraphyletic and has been split in four genera: Exochaenium, Klackenbergia, Lagenias and Sebaeas.str.. Synapomorphies for Sebaea s.str. include the presence of extra stigma along the style and the shape of the testa cells of the seeds.

Guy L. Nesom is an American writer and botanist.

<i>Centaurium pulchellum</i> Species of flowering plant

Centaurium pulchellum is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common name lesser centaury, or slender centaury. It differs from Centaurium erythraea by lacking basal rosette of leaves and by having a developed peduncle below the flowers. It is often much smaller, less than ten centimetres. It is native to the southern temperate parts of Europe.

<i>Klackenbergia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Klackenbergia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family (Gentianaceae) and the tribe Exaceae. It only contains two species, both endemic to Madagascar. They are notable for their inflorescence with characteristic long bracts and bracteoles and sub-sessile flowers arranged in axillary fascicules at each node.

Exaceae Tribe of flowering plants

Exaceae is a flowering plant tribe in the family Gentianaceae. Exaceae comprises about 180 species assigned to eight monophyletic genera, with major centres of endemism in continental Africa, Madagascar and the southern tip of India and Sri Lanka (14 endemic species).

Gyrandra is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gentianaceae, found in Texas, Mexico and Central America. Annual herbs, they are usually found in montane pine-oak forests.

References

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