Mystery plant from Majorca

[Maggi Young]

Hello, Friends, I have been asked to post this photo by a local SRGC Member, who photographed it in Majorca..... he says he pink of the flower may appear a bit too dark in the pic....  also...........

> It was growing in coarse grass that was previously part of a citrus
> grove.
> It was near to and part of a garden surrounding a house.
> It was on dry ground but regularly affected by a timed sprinkler.
> The height was about 30-40mms maximum.
> The flowers only lasted for one day and reflowered each day
> Altitude about 500 metres above sea level, open aspect.
> Flowering in early summer


Any ideas?

[Gerdk]

A Centaurium species perhaps C. pulchellum. According ' Beckett: Illustrated Flora of Mallorca ' a few similar species  were listed for the island, such as C. erythraea and tenuifolium and hybrids between all of them.

Maggi: height in mm oder cm?

Gerd

[Carlo]

My guess was C. erythraea, as has been mentioned. I grew this at The New York Botanical Garden where it seeded around gently in the rock garden. They are gentian relatives...

[Maggi Young]

Height, well, I was told in mms which seemed very small....but background foliage is pretty much in scale with mm I think. I'll look again at the pic before resizing.

[Maggi Young]

Here is a piece of the photo, showing some grasses and what looks like an ear of barley... so mms is probably correct. 

[Maggi Young]

 I think Centaurium pulchellum is a close bet, given the size, eh? Also that would fit with the flowers being lighter pink in real life.

I'll pass  on your opinions, thanks!