Determined according to the botanical key provided by Melderis in Tutin et al. (1972) and Matevski in Matevski (2010).
Species variability: Two subspecies of Centaurium erythraea Rafn occur in the Osogovo region: Centaurium erythraea Rafn subsp. erythraea and Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum (Velen.) Melderis. Both are quite similar, the main distinguishing feature being the scabridity in subsp. turcicum:
-subsp. erythraea: plant completely glabrous.
-subsp. turcicum: margin of leaves, bracts, upper part of stem and calyx scabrid.
Lifeform: Biennial plant. First year is vegetative characterized by formation of basal rosette. Second year is generative – flowering and fruiting. Basal rosette persists during flowering.
Distribution:Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum (Velen.) Melderis. is native to Morocco, Portugal, Southeast Europe to South European Russi and Pakistan according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).
Habitat: Grasslands, pastures, bushlands, edges and clearings of forests.
Flowering period: Summer: JUN, JUL.
Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – habit in habitat. Osogovo, mountain ridge between the gorges of “Golema” River and “Orizarska” River“, 04.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – habit. Osogovo, mountain ridge between the gorges of “Golema” River and “Orizarska” River“, 04.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – upper part of plant with inflorescence. Osogovo, mountain ridge between the gorges of “Golema” River and “Orizarska” River“, 04.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – upper part of plant with inflorescence. Osogovo, mountain ridge between the gorges of “Golema” River and “Orizarska” River“, 04.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – flowers. Osogovo, mountain ridge between the gorges of “Golema” River and “Orizarska” River“, 04.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – flowers. Osogovo, mountain ridge between the gorges of “Golema” River and “Orizarska” River“, 04.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – flowers. Osogovo, mountain ridge between the gorges of “Golema” River and “Orizarska” River“, 04.07.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – habit. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – habit. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – inflorescence. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – inflorescence. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – inflorescence. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – flowers and bracts. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – flowers and bracts. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – stem and leaves. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – abaxial side of leaf. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – lower part of plant. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurium erythraea subsp. turcicum – basal leaves and root. Osogovo, mountain ridge between lake “Gradche” and “Orizarska” River“, 26.06.2023. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurium Hill. Matevski, V. in Matevski, V. (2010). The Flora of the Republic of Macedonia Vol. II, Book 1. Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, pp. 26 – 31.
Centaurium Hill. Melderis, A. in Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M. & Webb, D.A. (1964). Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiaceae to Myoporaceae. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 56 – 59.
