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Sturla, Gene

Zeltnera arizonica

Zeltnera arizonica (A. Gray) G.Mans.

Arizona Centaury, Arizona Mountain-pink, Marsh Centaury

Gentianaceae (Gentian family)

Synonym(s): Centaurium arizonicum, Centaurium calycosum var. arizonicum, Erythraea calycosa var. arizonica

USDA Symbol: ZEAR

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

"Herbs annual or biennial, (10-)20-50(-60) cm. Stems 1-10, usually branching more or less sparsely near or above middle." (Webref: 38).

"Zeltnera arizonica and Z. calycosa appear to inter�grade in western Texas and Coahuila, Mexico, as noted by C. R. Broome (1973), and have often been treated as varieties of a single species. Zeltnera arizonica was sub�sumed in undivided Centaurium calycosum by N. H. Holmgren (1984b), who attributed its allegedly distinguishing features largely to environmental effects, whereas B. L. Turner (1993d) considered the resemblance between these taxa to be superficial and Z. arizonica (as Centaurium) appropriately recognized at species rank. From studies for this flora, acceptance of this species seems warranted.

In Zeltnera arizonica, the relatively sparse branches generally spread at 10-20�, whereas in Z. calycosa the usually denser branches spread at 20-60�.

Zeltnera arizonica is highly variable in the proportionate width of its corolla lobes. Some plants in the western part of its range resemble Z. exaltata vegetatively but differ in having corolla lobes much longer in proportion to the tube." (Webref: 38).

From the Image Gallery

21 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual , Biennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: To about 20 inches in height.
Leaf: "Leaves: basal usually present at flowering, sometimes numerous; blade oblanceolate to lanceolate, (7-)15-70 x 4-10 mm; cauline blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, (13-)25-70 x (2-)5-8(-13) mm, apex obtuse to acute." (Webref: 38).
Flower: "Inflorescences predominantly dichasial or distally monochasial cymes; pedicels 4-40(-60) mm. Flowers 5-merous; calyx 7-12 mm; corolla (15-)18-25 mm, lobes (lin�ear to) lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate or ellip�tic, 7-12 x 1-5 mm, apex acute; anthers 2.5-3.5 mm; stigmas 2, fan-shaped." (Webref: 38).
Fruit: "Seeds dark reddish brown." (Webref: 38).

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: "Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi�, Sonora)." (Webref: 38).
Native Habitat: "Habitat: Stream banks, marshes, other moist, open habitats. Elevation: 50-2800 m." (Webref: 38).

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Research Literature

Reslit 3225 - A new classification of the polyphyletic genus Centaurium Hill (Chironiinae,Gentianaceae): description of the New World endemic Zeltnera, and reinstatement of Gyrandra Griseb. and Schenkia Griseb. (2004) Guilhem Mansion

This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
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Additional resources

USDA: Find Zeltnera arizonica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Zeltnera arizonica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Zeltnera arizonica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2026-06-02
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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