Centaurium cachanlahuen (Molina) B.L. Rob., Gentianaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Gentiana cachanlahuen Molina

Common name(s): [more details]

English: cachanlagua, cachanlahuen, cachen cachanlaui, kachan-l-lawe

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Annual herb 5-40 cm in height, erect, glabrous. Stems quadrangular, sub-alate, dichotomously branching. Leaves opposite, sessile, entire. Inferior leaves oblong-lancoelate or oval, acute, 1-3 cm long by 0.5-2 cm wide; superior leaves smaller, linear or narrowly lanceolate. Inflorescence drooping panicles or terminal cymes, usually dichotomous. Flowers intense pink, peduncles 1-4 mm length; tubular calyx 5-10 mm long with 4-5 laciniae longer than the calyx tube, sublinear, acute; hypocrateriform corolla, tube 8-12 mm long, limb 3-6 mm long, 4-5 lobed, lobes elliptical-oblongate, obstuse. Stamens 4-5, opposite to petals, adnate to the corolla; filaments simple; anthers oblong, linear, spiral after flowering. Ovary oblong; style filiform; stigma bi-lamellate. Fruit in membranous capsule, veined, linear-oblong up to 1.2 cm long. Seeds numerous, oval, rough, sub-alate, 0.2-0.3 mm long"  (ICS-UNIDO Medical and Aromatic Plants online).

Habitat/ecology:  (no habitat/ecology info known by PIER)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Argentina, Chile (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 460, 463, 552)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Santa Clara	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Santa Clara	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 460, 463, 552) Voucher cited: Danton D(917)780

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Centaurium cachanlahuen, please let us know.