Zeltnera arizonica
Arizona centaury
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Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Zeltnera arizonica (Arizona centaury) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family.
Arizona centaury is a California native annual found in lower elevation regions, particularly in open, damp places and along streambanks at elevations of 50 to 100 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces delicate white to pale pink flowers with lanceolate lobes 9 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall, it forms a distinctive basal rosette of oblanceolate leaves. Its leaves range from 15 to 70 millimeters long, with lower basal leaves forming a rosette and upper cauline leaves becoming progressively more lanceolate. The plant produces an open inflorescence with flower pedicels extending 4 to 40 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, damp places, especially streambanks
Elevation: 50-100 m
Outside California: to Colorado, Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Zeltnera arizonica blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Centaurium: Zeltnera has wedge-shaped stigmas; Centaurium has oval stigmas (need hand lens).; vs Calandrinia: Zeltnera has tubular gentian flowers; Calandrinia has separate petals.; vs Sabatia: Zeltnera has narrow flower tubes; marsh pink has rotate flowers.; vs Clarkia: Zeltnera has tubular flowers; Clarkia has four separate petals.; vs Leptosiphon: Zeltnera has pink/white flowers; Leptosiphon often multicolored with very narrow tubes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zeltnera arizonica native to California?
Yes. Zeltnera arizonica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Zeltnera arizonica bloom?
Zeltnera arizonica blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Zeltnera arizonica belong to?
Zeltnera arizonica is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Zeltnera.
What habitat does Zeltnera arizonica grow in?
Zeltnera arizonica grows in Open, damp places, especially streambanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.