BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
Centranthus ruber (L.) DC. (Red Valerian, Spur Valerian)
| Notes (MWS) | A striking garden escape which flourishes on waste ground, cliffs and dunes, as well as walls and roadsides where it is often planted, particularly in the West Country. There are four flower-colour forms: magenta, red, brick and white. In the summer, their distinctive "doggy" smell imbues the Cornish lanes with a strong odour of stale dog dung. The fruits are wind dispersed, with a feathery pappus, which slowly unfurls like the ribs of an umbrella as the fruit ripens. |
Records (and photo sets)
| Taxon | Summary | Date | Vice-county | Country |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centranthus ruber | Plant | 6 September 2003 | East Cornwall | England | 21 |
| Centranthus ruber | Plant | 9 June 1975 | East Sussex | England | 1 |
Suggested Literature
Centranthus ruber may be covered by literature listed under:
Feeding and other inter-species relationships
Associated with Centranthus ruber:
| (live) | live is parasitised by | Erysiphe valerianae - a powdery mildew (Erysiphales: Erysiphaceae) | 
|
Ing, B., 1990 Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997 |
|
| flower | flower is galled by | Trioza centranthi - a jumping plantlouse (Homoptera: Psyllidae) | Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986 | ||
| leaf (live) | live leaf is spotted by hypophyllous colony of Ramularia anamoprh | Ramularia centranthi - an anamorphic fungus (Mycosphaerellales: Mycosphaerellaceae) | Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997 [causes pale brown or grey spots 2-15mm diam., sometimes with raised purplish-brown margins] | ||
| leaf | leaf is galled by | Trioza centranthi - a jumping plantlouse (Homoptera: Psyllidae) | Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986 |
Centranthus ruber may be associated with more taxa listed at higher taxonomic level
|
MAGNOLIOPSIDA (flowering plants) |
MAGNOLIIDAE (dicotyledonous flowering plants) |
VALERIANACEAE (valerians and corn salads) |
References
| Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997 | Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook |
| Ing, B., 1990 | An Introduction to British Powdery Mildews |
| Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986 | Provisional Keys to British Plant Galls |
