In Spain, it is a rather common plant (though a little rarer in the SE areas), but is not threatened. Therefore, it currently is not included in any red list (neither local nor state ones) - I guess 'Lc' should be the best category for C. erythraea in my country. You can find more details in the link: . I have not information on field cultivation of that species in Spain.

This species doesn't belong to rare and endangered species in Ukraine, but Centaurium erythraea is under protection on regional level in Khmelnytskyi region. Please see: http://botany.kiev.ua/doc/of_reg_sp.pdf

Several Ukrainian Botanical Gardens are cultivating the plant in their collections.

It is a rather common species in Italy. It is not included in any Red List and is not protected at national or regional level. Also in Italy it should be listed in LC category.

C erythraeae subsp erythraea has been collected twice (1975 and 1983) in the island of Reunion in Mascarenes, Western Indian Ocean Island. The genus (and family) is introduced to the region, with C pulchellum being naturalised in the island of Mauritius.

It is a relatively common species in Romania. It is not included in any Red List at a national level.

Centaurium erythraea is quite rare in most parts of Belgium, except the maritime district and the southern part of the country. It is legally protected in Belgium since 1976 (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esp%C3%A8ces_v%C3%A9g%C3%A9tales_l%C3%A9galement_prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9es_en_Belgique). Since nature protection is no longer a federal matter, both Flemish and Walloon regions have now their own legislation reporting C. erythraea as a protected species. It is currently regressing in all parts of the country.

I have no information on field cultivation of this species in Belgium.

According Pignatti S. in Flora di Italia (1982) in Italy this specie is distributed throughout the territory included in the major and minor islands, is its state of preservation is common.

I have collected too this specie in Repubblic of San Marino and I believe that its status is also common .

Dear Branislav,

in Austria Centaurium erythraea is stated to occur in all federal states and is listed as "- r" (= not endangered in Austria altogether, but still regionally in category 0, 1, 2 or 3) with western Austrian Alps, Bohemian Massif and foreland north of the Alps being those regions. [Niklfeld H. & Schratt-Ehrendorfer L. 1999: Rote Liste gefährdeter Farn- und Blütenpflanzen (Pteridophyta und Spermatophyta) Österreichs - 2. Fassung. In: Niklfeld H. (Hrsg.): Rote Listen gefährdeter Pflanzen Österreichs. Zweite Auflage. Grüne Reihe des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie - Band 10. Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie, Wien: 33-130.]

In Spain you can consult distribution maps by regions, subspecies, status of conservation, tendencies along time and related information in the excellent web page of Anthos Project (www.anthos.es) from National Research Council (CSIC) of Spain. Also, I suggest you that test if this species could be an overgrazing indicator due to its toxicity for ruminants. This could explain something about its expansion and conservation in rangelands. This is only an idea.....Good luck.

As I know, it has not been determined the presence of the species in Chile, but in Argentina it has been introduced.

In Australia, the species has naturalized all states except the Northern Territory. See http://www.botany.unimelb.edu.au/buffalo/Centaurium_erythraea.htm

It is considered to be an invasive plant in the US. For more information on the invasive species status following website will be useful: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEER5

It may be useful to know that Centaurium erythraea subsp. erythraea is an abundant, naturalised weed in all of the main islands of the New Zealand archipelago. It is common not only in anthropogenic habitats but also in open or seral ones dominated by indigenous plants. As a weed I am not aware that anyone here as studied it or tried to cultivate it. If this species is threatened in parts of Europe it may be interesting to determine the origin of our wild plants.

In Portugal this is a common species throughout the country although not common everywhere (but more in certain coastal areas, for instance in grey dunes). There are however three distinct subspecies in the country (erythraea, grandiflora and turcicum) displaying slightly different distributions.

More info on its distribution in Portugal here: http://www.flora-on.pt/index.php#/71656

Hope it helps.

Centaurium erythraea is a common environmental weed in Australia(especially in Victoria), where it is thriving.

I note that both Tara Martin and Tim Fisher have responded from the Australia perspective; however, you may be interested in the following: :http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Html/Centaurium_erythraea.htm talks of the species being widely naturalised throughout the wetter regions of Australia; the IUCN Red Data Book http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/202950/0 also talks about its distribution in Australia but also elsewhere. There has also been, at least, mention of the species in quite a few journal articles from Australia. Try going into Google Scholar and using the key words 'Centaurium erythraea Australia' to get started.

In Belgium it is a fairly common species on slighly moister soils, taking advantage of disturbed soils in urbanized regions. In Flanders (the northern part) it is protected by law, just like its two other sister species (pulchellum and littorale). Note that there is a shift in the degree in ploidy levels as you move from south (diploid) to north (tetraploid and hexaploid) throughout Europe, which may be associated with subspecies status. See http://archive.bsbi.org.uk/Wats11p33.pdf and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230725014_Phylogenetic_patterns_and_polyploid_evolution_within_the_Mediterranean_genus_Centaurium_(Gentianaceae_-_Chironieae)?ev=prf_pub on the RG page of Guilhem Mansion

Article Phylogenetic Patterns and Polyploid Evolution within the Med...

Thank you all for the exceptionally useful comments and links. Since my PhD thesis was performed on Centaurium erythraea as a model, I would be honoured to share some intersting information with the followers.

C. erythraea is one of the oldest plant panacea (owing secoiridoid glycosides - bitterness and xanthones - antioxidative properties). It is of Mediterranean origin (and its ploidy level presumerably was 2x in ancestral populations). After glaciation spreading northwest and to the east was partially enabled by autopolyploidy, which enlarged species' genetic plasticity and increased effective population size. It is a low competitive plant (sowing seeds on your lawn or meadow would not bring any plant) which can grow on almost every type of soil (it prefers calcareous ones). Its natural populations (on the Balkan Peninsula) are highly vulnerable due to overcollection, habitat fragmentation, extensive agriculture, etc. Yes, it was introduced to the other continents a few centuries ago where managed very well (according to your comments). I wouldn't consider it as "weed" because it appears in habitats which other plant species avoid.

By the way, offically (Mansion et al., 2005), there are 2 subspecies which are proclaimed according to their ploidy level (thanks Joachim): ssp. rumelicum (2x), and ssp. erythraea (4x). Other forms belong to varieties (e.g. subcapitatum) or interspecies hybrids (which ratherly occur), the most commonly with: C. tenuiflorum (Mediterranean region), C. littorale (Central and Western Europe).

Righ now I'm preparing a manuscript which deals with the ploidy level of C. erythraea on the Balkans and its genetic variations (by molecular markers). (P.J, I'm waiting for the seeds from the New Zealand).

Looking forward for more comments.

Centaurium erytraea does not grow in Finland. It occurs in Sweden and Denmark, but not in Finland.

Centaurium erythraea is considered to be vulnerable (VU) in Luxembourg see Colling, G. (2005) Red list of the vascular plants of Luxembourg. Ferrantia 42, Musée national d'histoire naturelle Luxembourg.

Good to hear that you are getting seeds from New Zealand. Bit perplexed about the comments that this plant is not a 'weed' though because it is a 'weed' here in that it actively competes with and excludes indigenous herbaceous plants (e.g., Drosera, Centrolepis, Schizaea to name but a few genera) from the indigenous habitats it occupies. That, in my view places it as a weed.

PJL: "Weed" is a context-dependent appreciation, entirely dependent on what constitutes a desirable community composition in a particular ecosystem, and which species don't fit in that vision. It's rather obvious that it's considered a weed in NZ, but in its native range it's not that common everywhere, largely due to a lack of natural disturbance and increased nutrient deposition. In Europe nature is becoming entrapped in the bits and pieces designed for it with a narrow steady-state vision for each patch, allowing very little room for natural succession from pioneer habitats (typical for this species) to later stages. Hence, this species is mostly "surviving" (at least in N-Belgium) in coastal areas (in dune slacks), intensively managed nature reserves, where it hops around from patch to patch, and in artificial pioneer habitats on construction sites, industry zones etc.

Yes, the similar (rather critical) situation is on the Balkans, with a little better picture in the souther parts. In Serbia, north of the Danube river (about 18.000 km2) I have found only one week population (after several crisscross expeditions). As an allochtonous species I believe it is not wellcome in the New Zealand where, like P.J. said, is jeopardazing the survival of endemic ferns and other plants. But I never saw any of the Centaurium species to active competes with other species in its natural habitats in the Balkans, so this is a quite new information for me. Like Joachim said, "surviving" could be a proper term for the status of Centaurium erythraea on the Balkan Peninsula.

My comment on 'weed' relates to the statement of Branislav's viz, "I wouldn't consider it as "weed" because it appears in habitats which other plant species avoid" - clearly in Europe and elsewhere within its indigenous range it is not a 'weed' but outside that range it most can be and most certainly is in New Zealand (if not elsewhere). As Branislav did not clarify his statement on the matter w.r.t indigenous vs naturalised ranges I felt it necessary to make it clear that outside its indigenous range it can and often is a weedy species.

In Poland, Centaurium erythraea (only subsp. erythraea occurs) is strictly protected by law. Howewer, it is not included in "Red list of plants and fungi in Poland" (2006). The species is cultivated for farmacological purposes.

Thanks Krzysztof. The same story in Serbia. Any document about C.e. protection in Poland? Or link? And something about cultivation companies? Again, link? I would be immensely grateful.

Official document about protection: Regulation of the Minister of Environment of January 5, 2012 on the protection of species of plants (in the attachment, in Polish). I will try to find something about cultivation.

The research of the natural resources of medicinal plants protected in Poland (Centaurium part):

http://www.herbapolonica.pl/app/webroot/magazines-files/3761537-Forycka%20&%20Buchwald.pdf

Thanks again, Krzysztof. I greatly appreciate your efforts.

Not threatened at least in the south of the Iberian Peninsula...is very frequent in pastures.

Cenntaurium erythraea is not included in any list for species under protection in Greece. As far as I know it does not cultivated neither. I suggest you to send your querry for the rest EU countries to Monika Janisova ([email protected]) whoi is responsible for the Bulletin of European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG Bulletin) in order to publicisize your question and possibly you will receive responses from several EU countries.

In Portugal we have three subspecies Centaurium erythreaea (erythaea, turcicum and grandiflorum), all are very common having no conservation status. Also do not cultivate

In France, this species is common (http://inpn.mnhn.fr/espece/listeEspeces/Centaurium+erythraea/). Like other atlantic biogeographical regions, several subsp. already exist. in France, this species has no legal status and, to my mind not cultivated at all.

In Greece, even thought exist five subspecies of Centaurium erythtraea (one endemic in Greece, Centaurium erythraea subsp. limoniiforme (Greuter) Greuter), is not under protection (even the endemic subspecies). Generally the species is distributed all over Greece but without high abundance. Also do not cultivate.

In Luxembourg, it is listed as vulnerable in the Red List of the Vascular Plants of Luxembourg (2005) and is protected by law (Règlement grand-ducal du 8 janvier 2010 concernant la protection intégrale et partielle de certaines espèces de la flore sauvage). Both documents are available online.

http://ps.mnhn.lu/ferrantia/publications/Ferrantia42.pdf

http://www.environnement.public.lu/conserv_nature/legislation/nationale/floresauvage/RGD_flore_2010.pdf

In the Netherlands the species is quite common in the coastal areas, and not rare in the southern part of the country and along the rivers. In the northern flora districts it's not common, but the species is not listed in the Red List, and is not protected.

CZ:

Status: C4a

http://www.naturabohemica.cz/centaurium-erythraea/

http://botany.cz/cs/centaurium-erythraea/

It is quit common in France and have get no protection status there.

In Germany it is a protected species (together with all other indigenous species of Centaurium there) under federal law. See : http://floraweb.de/pflanzenarten/artenhome.xsql?suchnr=1406&

In Sardinia (Italy) the species is quite common and not particularly threatened.

In the Czech Republic, the species is rather common in open mesophilous grasslands and sometimes also on disturbed habitats like the fallows. It is not protected and if cultivated, than probably only for education purposes (in botanical gardens). In fact, all the species in C4a category are rather common but they do not grow anywhere due to specific habitat demands (i.e. not all grassland types but the habitats as specified above in the case of Centaurium erythraea).

In my country 'Kurdistan' Centaurium erythraea is quite common you can easily find them in nature mainly in low temperature zones (places close to mountains and some valley areas) however they haven't been protected by law. In spring time you can see a wide area with a pink flower which is this plant. Unfortunately, there isn't any study on it so it is hard to find data in here.  all the best