centaurea

[ sen-tawr-ee-uh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of numerous composite plants of the genus Centaurea, having tubular flowers in a variety of colors. Compare cornflower ( def 1 ), knapweed.

centaurea

/ ˌsɛntɔːˈrɪə; sɛnˈtɔːrɪə /

< New Latin (Linnaeus) by suffix change from Medieval Latin centauria; centaury, -ea

C19: ultimately from Greek Kentauros the Centaur; see centaury

Give the Coleus about six inches of lee-way, also the Centaurea.

Centaurea (Cornflower), all shades of blue; three feet; blooms three months if kept cut.

Centaurea or cornflower, the bachelor's button or ragged sailor of old gardens, is in the front rank of the worthies.

The moth is out in July and in August, and may often be seen resting on the flowers of knapweed (Centaurea) in the daytime.

Ray-florets when present are usually pistillate, but neuter in some genera (as Centaurea); the disk-florets are hermaphrodite.

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