Zeltnera venusta is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names California centaury, charming centaury and canchalagua. This centaury is native to much of California, southern Oregon, and northwest Baja California. It grows in many habitats up to elevations around 1300 meters. It is an annual wildflower rarely reaching half a meter in height. The pointed oval leaves grow opposite on the thin stems. The inflorescence is tipped with one or more showy star-shaped flowers, each with a white-centered magenta corolla about 2 centimeters wide. Until 2004, it was placed in genus Centaurium as Centaurium venustum. References External links Jepson Manual Treatment USDA Plants Profile Photo gallery venusta Flora of California Flora of Oregon Flora of the California desert regions Flora of the Klamath Mountains Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Flora of the Cascade Range Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the Central Valley (California) Natural history of the Channel Islands of California Natural history of the Mojave Desert Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Taxa named by Asa Gray