Family: Gentianaceae Lesser Centuary Centaurium pulchellum Flowering time: June-August. Annual. Native Found on open damp or dry, acidic or calcareous soils on grassland, heaths, sand dunes, salt-marshes, sea-cliffs and quarries Small, slender plant (usually 5-10cm tall) with a spreading inflorescence of small pink flowers on stalks 1-4mm long. Petals are narrow and the corolla tube is longer than the calyx. Stems branched or unbranched but no basal rosette of leaves is present by flowering time. Similar: Common Centuary, Centaurium erythyraea

Lesser Centuary, Centaurium pulchellum
The Purbecks, Dorset. July 2014