bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Centaurea cineraria, the velvet centaurea, is – like some other plants – also known as dusty miller and silver dust. It is a small plant in the family Asteraceae and originates from the Island of Capraia in Italy, where it is called fiordaliso delle scogliere.[3]

Centaurea cineraria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Centaurea
Species:	C. cineraria
Binomial name
Centaurea cineraria L.
Synonyms
Centaurea gymnocarpa[1] Centaurea candidissima Lam.[2] Acosta cineraria (L.) Holub[3] Centaurea gymnocarpa var. gymnocarpa Centaurea plumosa var. plumosa Centaurea ucriae Lacaita Centaurea acutifolia Schur Centaurea cinerea Lam. Centaurea plumosa E.Vilm. Centaurea elegans Salisb.[4] Centaurea dealbata Moris ex Nyman Centaurea cinerea subsp. cinerea Centaurea cineraria var. cineraria

The mature plants will grow from 15 to 60 cm (6 to 23.5 in). They prefer full sun, but will tolerate light shade, and also prefers average to rich well-drained soil.[5]

Centaurea cineraria will produce small white or yellow flowers in summer, but these are usually trimmed because the plant is normally grown as foliage.

Depending on climate, it can be grown as either an annual or as a perennial.

Centaurea cineraria is polymorphic in several characters, and the high variation within populations gives rise to many subspecies which causes C. cineraria to be referred to under a wide variety of different synonyms.[6]

Common cultivars include:'Silver Dust', 'Silver Lace' and 'Cirrus'. The image above the scientific classification is a plant of the 'Silver Lace' cultivar.

Centaurea cineraria is sometimes referred to as Centaurea gymnocarpa, as a hybrid species between the two is used in gardens as an ornamental plant. However, in the wild, the two may be considered different species.[7]

In the UK Centaurea cineraria subsp. cineraria has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8]

References

• Cela Renzoni G, Viegi L.. 1983. Centaurea cineraria s.l. (Asteraceae) in Italia: revisione citotassonomica.. Atti della Società Toscana di Scienze Naturali. Memorie serie B, 89: pp. 99–144. Società Toscana di Scienze Naturali, Pisa.
• Ellis, Barbara W., "Taylor's Guide to Annuals, How to Select and Grow More Than 400 Annuals, Biennials, and Tender Perennials", 1999 Haughton Mifflin Company, New York, NY
• Armitage, Allan M., "Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials", illustrated Asha Kays and Chris Johnson, 2001 Timber Press Inc., Singapore

External links

• United States Department of Agriculture
• "Centaurea cineraria" at the Encyclopedia of Life

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