GREATER CENTAURY; a genus of the polygama fruticosa order, belonging to the syngenesia class of plants. There are 67 species. The root of one of them called glauca, is an article in the materia medica. It has a rough, somewhat acid taste, and abounds with a red viscid juice. Its rough taste has gained it some esteem as an astringent; its acrimony, as an aperient; and its glutinous quality, as a vulnerary; but the present practice takes very little notice of it in any intention. Another of the species is the cyanus or blue-bottle, which grows commonly among corn. The expressed juice of this flower stains linen of a beautiful blue colour, but is not permanent. Mr Boyle says, that the juice the inner petals, with a little alum, makes a beautiful permanent colour, equal to ultramarine.

Leffor Centaury. See Gentiana.