Common name
English: Annual valerian
German: Fußangel-Spornblume
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae (2625)
Phylum: Tracheophyta (2528)
Class: Magnoliopsida (2137)
Order: Dipsacales (33)
Family: Caprifoliaceae (18)(family description)
Genus: Centranthus (2)
Epithet: calcitrapa (L.) Dufr. (1)
Synonyms: Centranthus macrosiphon Willk., Hybidium calcitrapa Fourr., Kentranthus calcitrapa Druce, Ocymastrum calcitrapa Kuntze, Rittera calcitrapa Raf. (L.), Valeriana annua Gray, Valeriana calcitrapa L., Valeriana laciniata Salisb., Valeriana parviflora Miégev., Valeriana rotundifolia Sibth. & Sm., Valeriana steveni Ledeb.
annua => yearly, annual, lasting a year, within a year
calcitrapa => caltrop (an antipersonnel weapon made up of sharp spines arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward from a stable base)
laciniata => shredded or torn
parviflora => small flowers
rotundifolia => referring to the rounded leaves
Characteristics
Climate: temperate
Habit: herb
Flower colour: violet, pink, white