Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)

A lovely wildflower of the gentian family which closes up its flowers in the afternoon. There are several common names like Feverwort, Felwort, and Christ's Ladder. It apparently has all sorts of medicinal uses (none of which I have tried!) including reducing fever, removing freckles, improving the appetite and treating snakebites (to name but a few). The herbalist Culpepper writes 'Tis very wholesome, but not very toothsome.'

[Bep]

This is a beautiful flower. The Dutch name is 'duizendguldenkruid', which means thousend guilders herb. No idea why...

[Kat]

Lovely lighting and composition, a wonderful informative description to boot!

[GaryW]

Gorgeous shot! Very pretty color and like the darkness with the sun in the foreground.

[ShirleyB]

Lovely coloured flower. Great light and composition. Especially like the gate in the background.

[Rick]

Cool shot. Great lighting.

[Nitrogene]

I love this shot! Beautiful flower!

[Hilary]

Wonderful photo - love the gate in the background too.

[Julienne Jones]

@gijsje - that's interesting! Maybe the herbalists made a lot of money out of using it!

[Julienne Jones]

@katrinastabback - thanks - it was actually very bright but lovely and shady behind the hedge where this was growing

[Julienne Jones]

@thewatersphotos - yes the contrasts are lovely when the light and shade are so different

[Julienne Jones]

@shirleybankfarm @hilarymeme - that's one of the gates that the local council have been putting in on footpaths to replace stiles. Much easier on the knees!

[Julienne Jones]

@rickster549 - thanks!

[Julienne Jones]

@nitrogene - it certainly is a lovely flower

[Joan Morvinson]

Wonder what toothsome means? = lovely picture

[Julienne Jones]

@jomo - I think he is referring to the flavour, toothsome meaning it tastes good, but this herb is very bitter!

[Nova]

Very nice dof and pov on this shot. You captured the flowers beautifully. :)

[Yeshanghai]

So beautiful! Love the colors, POV and lighting.

[Allie]

I love these little flowers. I had no idea they were so useful. He has to be referring to flavor because they are too pretty for the alternate definition.