The Polymorphism and Hybridization of the Centaurea Species

  • Ghizela VONICA Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Natural History Museum from Sibiu, Brukenthal National Museum, Cetăţii Street, no.1, Sibiu
  • Maria CANTOR CANTOR Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania;

Abstract

The Centaurea genus is one of the most complicated because it has great morphological diversity and, due to this fact, it has been little studied in scientific literature. Special attention was given to this genus when invasive species managed to conquer new territories, causing real damage in crops and pastures. However, there are few studies in Romania about its decorative and medicinal properties. This paper addresses the polymorphism problem based on herbarium samples and field observations. The results of these observations facilitate further mechanism to address this kind of research in any direction.