Common centaury
Centaurium erythraea
Family: Gentianaceae
Fire effect on plant
Plants are killed by fire (Trabaud et al, 1997; Pausas & Tavşanoğlu, 2018).
Key traits
The Common Centaury is an annual or biennial species, and as such it is unlikely to resprout after fire given its short lifespan.
This species produces copious small seeds (average individual produced around 10,800 seed; Ubsdell, 1979). Seeds are short-term persistent in the soil seed bank (present for at least one year, but less than five years; Thompson et al, 1997). There is no specific adaptation enabling seed dispersal but presumably it relies upon wind and rain wash (Ridley, 1930). Seeds can germinate following fire (Trabaud et al, 1997).
The Common Centaury is an annual or biennial species, and as such it is unlikely to resprout after fire given its short lifespan.
This species produces copious small seeds (average individual produced around 10,800 seed; Ubsdell 1979). Seeds are short-term persistent in the soil seed bank (present for at least one year, but less than five years; Thompson et al. 1997). There is no specific adaptation enabling seed dispersal but presumably it relies upon wind and rain wash (Ridley 1930). Seeds can germinate following fire (Trabaud et al 1997).
Plant response to fire
The effects of fire on Common Centaury populations is unknown.
Timing of life history
Annual or biennial. Seed produced in first or second growing season. Flowering May to August.
Conservation status
None.
References
Pausas, J. G.; Tavşanoğlu, Ç. (2018). BROT 2.0: A functional trait database for Mediterranean Basin plants. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3843841.v1 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Thompson K, Bakker J P, Bekker R M. 1997. Soil seed banks of NW Europe: methodology,density and longevity. Cambridge University Press. 276 pp [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Trabaud, L., Martínez-Sánchez, J. J., Ferrandis, P., González-Ochoa, A. I., Herranz, J. M. (1997). Végétation épigée et banque de semences du sol: leur contribution à la stabilité cyclique des pinèdes mixtes de Pinus halepensis et P. pinaster. Canadian Journal of Botany-Revue Canadienne De Botanique 75: 1012-1021. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Ubsdell, R.A.E. 1979. Studies on variation and evolution in Centaurium erythraea Rafn and C. littorale (D. Turner) Gilmour in the British Isles. 3. Breeding systems, floral biology and general discussion. Watsonia 12: 225-232. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]