Species

Centaurea cyanus

Etymology

Centaurea: From the classical name kentaurion (Greek) or centaureum (Latin) in the fables of ancient Greece, which describe the plant healing the foot of Chiron, a centaur famed for his knowledge of medicine and astronomy.
cyanus: dark blue, the Greek name for the cornflower

Common Name(s)

cornflower

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Flowering

November, December

Flower Colours

Blue

Fruiting

november, december, january,

Year Naturalised

1875

Origin

S.E. Europe, Sicily

This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010