Centaurea cyanus
Centaurea cyanus | |
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Centaurea cyanus A species endemic to Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Centaurea |
Species: | C. cyanus
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Binomial name | |
Centaurea cyanus |
Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button,
Description
Centaurea cyanus is an
Distribution
Centaurea cyanus is native to
It has been present in Britain and Ireland as an archaeophyte (ancient introduction) since the Iron Age.[7] In the United Kingdom, it has declined from 264 sites to just 3 sites in the last 50 years.[8]
In reaction to this, the conservation charity Plantlife named it as one of 101 species it would actively work to bring 'back from the brink'.[9]
In the County Clare (VC H9) in Ireland, Centaurea cyanus is recorded in arable fields as very rare and almost extinct,[10] while in the North-East of Ireland, it was abundant before the 1930s.[11]
Genetics and breeding
Genetics
Centaurea cyanus is a
Cultivars
Several
Breeding goals
As for all ornamental plants, important goals of Centaurea cyanus breeding include the induction of phenotypic variation (e.g. in flower coloration, size and shape, foliage characteristics or plant height), higher flower yield, resistance to pests and diseases as well as tolerance to abiotic stress (e.g., extreme temperatures, drought or salinity).[15]
Ecology
Weed in arable crops
Centaurea cyanus is considered a noxious
Fodder for insects and birds
The
The seeds of Centaurea cyanus are one of the favourite foods of the European goldfinch.
Control of insect pests
Centaurea cyanus was found to produce volatiles attracting
Cultivation
Soil and climate requirements
Centaurea cyanus requires full sun and neutral (pH 6.6–7.5) to mildly alkaline (pH 7.6–7.8), moist and well-drained soil. However, Centaurea cyanus is quite tolerant to drought once established.[23]
Sowing
For summer-blooming plants,
Germination occurs quickly after sowing.Fertilization and cultural practices
High phosphorus fertilization in mid-summer will increase flower production. Mulching is recommended to prevent drying out of the soil and exposure of the root system to the sun.[23]
Pests and diseases
In general, Centaurea cyanus is not very susceptible to
Seed harvesting
Seeds are harvested either by hand or, in an agricultural setting, with a seed harvesting machine. On average there are 97,000 seeds in a pound of cornflower seeds.[26]
Hand collecting can be time-consuming and yields are rather low.
A seed harvesting machine is more efficient than collecting the seeds by hand, but it is costly. The main principle of such a machine is that it brushes the ripe seeds off the plant and creates a
Pruning
Deadheading will encourage the plant to produce more blooms. Cornflowers are often used for ornamental purposes and by cutting them, up to their third leaves, they will produce more blooms and grow a bigger stem.
Uses
Food
The flowers of Centaurea cyanus can be eaten raw, dried or cooked.[28] Dried petals are used in foods, including in spices. Their main purpose is to add colour to food. There are cheeses or oils that contain raw petals. Petals can also be added to salads, drinks, or desserts for garnishing purposes in raw or dried form.
Beverages
Dried petals are also used in teas and other beverages. Blue cornflower petals are sometimes one of the ingredients in Lady Grey tea.[29]
Ornamental use
Centaurea cyanus is used as an ornamental plant. There are varieties with blue, white, purple, pink or even black petals.
Pigment
The blue color of Centaurea cyanus is due to protocyanin, an anthocyanin pigment that is also found in roses.[30] Different anthocyanins derived from Centaurea cyanus are used as natural additives in food products, such as yoghurts.
Medicinal purpose
Centaurea cyanus contains a wide range of pharmacologically active compounds, such as flavonoids, anthocyanins and aromatic acids.[31] Especially the flower head finds application in herbal medicine, but leaves and seeds are also used for pharmacological purposes, albeit to a lesser extent.
In particular, extracts from the flower heads have anti-inflammatory properties used in the treatment of minor
Phytoremediation
Centaurea cyanus has been evaluated for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with lead. Inoculation of the contaminated soil with Glomus spp. (fungus) and Pseudomonas spp. (bacterium) would significantly enhance the biomass production and lead uptake of Centaurea cyanus.[35]
Folklore and symbolism
In folklore, cornflowers were worn by young men in love;[clarification needed] if the flower faded too quickly, it was taken as a sign that the man's love was not returned.[36]: 126
The blue cornflower was one of the national symbols of Germany.
It was also the favourite flower of Louise's son
The cornflower is also often seen as an inspiration for the German
Due to its traditional association with Germany, the cornflower has been made the official symbol of the annual German-American
The blue cornflower has been the national flower of Estonia since 1969 and symbolizes daily bread to Estonians. It is also the symbol of the Estonian Conservative People's Party.
It is also the symbol of the
It is the official flower of the Swedish province of Östergötland and the school flower of Winchester College and also of Dulwich College, where it is said to have been the favourite flower of the founder, Edward Alleyn.
In France the
The cornflower is also the symbol for
Cornflowers are sometimes worn by
A blue cornflower was used by
In paintings
-
Vincent van Gogh, Wheat Field with Cornflowers, 1890.
-
Isaac Levitan, Cornflowers, 1894.
-
Igor Grabar, Group Portrait with Cornflowers, 1914.
-
Sergei Osipov, Cornflowers, 1976.
-
Ukrainian stamp set: "Ukrainian Flowers" (2000), with cornflowers on the right. Painting by Kateryna Shtanko.
See also
Explanatory notes
References
- ^ Rosamond Richardson, 2017, Britain's Wildflowers. Pavilion.
- ISBN 0586082093.
- ^ [1]. Daylilies in Australia, May 17, 2021
- S2CID 4312804.
- ISBN 3-258-05405-3.
- ISBN 0-7232-2419-6.
- ^ "Online atlas of the British & Irish flora: Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)". Biological Records Centre and Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ "Action plan for Centaurea cyanus". Ukbap.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ^ "Plantlife website". Plantlife.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ^ Skeffington, M.S. (2015). "Cornflower (Centaurea cynanus L.) and Good-king-henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus L.)". Irish Naturalists' Journal. 34: 27–31.
- ISBN 0-85389-446-9.
- ^ Martin E., Dinç M., Duran A. (2009). "Karyomorphological Study of Eight Centaurea L. Taxa (Asteraceae) from Turkey". Turkish Journal of Botany 33:97–104.
- ^ Le Corre V., Bellanger S., Guillemin J.-P., Darmency H. (2014). "Genetic diversity of the declining arable plant Centaurea cyanus: Population fragmentation within an agricultural landscape is not associated with enhanced spatial genetic structure". Weed Research 54:436–444.
- .
- ^ "Breeding and Seed Production of Ornamental Crops". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ a b c Gehring, K.; Seemann, W.; Thyssen, S. "Leitunkräuter in Getreide". LfL Bayern. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Pallutt, B.; Flatter, A. (1998). "Variability of weed competitiveness in cereals and consequences for the correctness of thresholds". Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection (Special Issue 16): 333–344.
- ^ Adamczewski, K.; Kierzek, R. (2010). "Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus L.) cross resistant on ALS inhibitors". Progress in Plant Protection. 50 (1): 285–290.
- ^ Carreck N., Williams I. (2002). "Food for insect pollinators on farmland: insect visits to flowers of annual seed mixtures". Journal of Insect Conservation 6:13–23.
- ISBN 3-440-10838-4, S. 31
- S2CID 17117503.
- .
- ^ a b c d e "How to Grow Cornflower". American Meadows. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Hanf, Martin (1943). "Keimung von Unkrauterun unter verschiedenen Bedingungen im Boden". Landwirtschaftliche Jahrbücher. 93 (2): 169–259.
- ^ "Centaurea Cyanus [sic]: Best Practices for Growing the Cornflower". Best Plants. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Tall Blue Cornflower Seeds". www.ufseeds.com. 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Methods of seed harvesting". www.dpi.nsw.gov.au. 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Rop O., Mlcek J., Jurikova T., Neugebauerová J., Vabkova J. (2012). "Edible Flowers-A New Promising Source of Mineral Elements in Human Nutrition". Molecules 17:6672–83.
- ^ "Discovery Collection Orangery of Lady Grey - 15 Pyramid Tea Bags".
- ^ Shiono M., Matsugaki N., Takeda K. (2005). "Structure of the blue cornflower pigment". Nature 436:791–791.
- ^ Al-Snafi A. (2015). "The pharmacological importance of Centaurea cynus - A review". International Journal of Pharmacy Review and Research 5:379–384.
- ^ Garbacki N., Gloaguen V., Damas J., Bodart P., Tits M., Angenot L. (1999). "Anti-inflammatory and immunological effects of Centaurea cyanus flower-heads". Journal of ethnopharmacology 68:235–241.
- ^ Lockowandt L., Pinela J., Roriz C., Pereira C., Abreu R., Calhelha R., Alves M., Barros L., Bredol M., Ferreira I. (2019). "Chemical features and bioactivities of cornflower (Centaurea cyanus L.) capitula: The blue flowers and the unexplored non-edible part". Industrial Crops and Products 128:496–503.
- ^ Pirvu L., Dragomir C., Schiopu S., Mihul S. (2012). "Vegetal extracts with gastroprotective activity. Part. I. Extracts obtained from Centaurea cyanus L. raw material". Romanian Biotechnological Letters 17:7169-7176.
- .
- ^ Howard, Michael (1987). Traditional Folk Remedies. Century.
- ISBN 9789077135044.
The Cornflower was once the floral emblem of Germany (hence the German common name Kaiserblume).
- ISBN 978-1-84753-521-4.
- ^ Whiteside, Andrew G. (1993). Pan-Germanism: Anti-Semitism in Mass-Style Politics. Vol. 3/2. de Gruyter. p. 691.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ISBN 9781557534002.
- ^ "RIS Dokument". www.ris.bka.gv.at (in German). Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ Josie Le Blond (11 January 2019). "New far-right German party adopts former secret Nazi symbol". The Guardian.
- ^ "Anklänge an illegale NSDAPler". ORF.at. 30 October 2006.
- ^ "KPÖ". www.kpoe.at (in German). Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ "Wirbel um Nazi-Blume bei der FPÖ". 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ "FPÖ-Mandatare tragen heute Edelweiß statt Kornblume". Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-4587-2217-1.
- ^ "Porter le Bleuet de France" [Wearing French Cornflower]. Le Bleuet de France [French cornflower] (in French). Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
Depuis sa création en 1920, le Bleuet de France est le symbole de la mémoire et de la solidarité des français envers les anciens combattants, les victimes de guerre, les veuves et les orphelins. Il se porte sur le côté gauche, côté du cœur, chaque 8 mai et 11 novembre.
[Since its creation in 1920, the Bleuet de France has been the symbol of the memory and solidarity of the French towards veterans, war victims, widows and orphans. It is worn on the left side, side of the heart, every May 8 and November 11.] - ^ "The Cornflower - an ALS symbol". Als.ca. 31 May 2004. Archived from the original on 26 July 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.