About
Gölbaşı love flower or scientifically Centaurea tchihatcheffii is an endemic species of Turkey belonging to Asteraceae family’s genus of Centaurea. Gölbaşı love flower, which grows only in Gölbaşı district of Ankara and is endangered according to the criteria of the World Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is named after Centaur, a mythological creature proposed by Hippocrates. The annual herbaceous plant, has purple, red and pink colours. It is included in the “Definitely Protected Plant Species” list according to the IUCN and Bern Convention (Convention on the Conservation of Europe’s Wildlife and Habitat). Also known as Red Cornflower, Iridescent and Bridal Button, the plant blooms in red, purple, and pink. The flowering period of the plant starts the last week of April and continues until the first week of July. It spends the remaining 9 months in the seed stage. The root of the flower is 4 to 21 centimetres long and has a taproot structure. The plant has thin long side branches, and the body of the plant is between 4 and 50 centimetres tall. According to the legend, Gölbaşı love flower feels sorry for two lovers madly in love but unable to get together. The plant tells us the story of the lovers through its various colours. With its iridescent flower, the corrugation of its leaves, and its ability to reflect light, it has some unique features not seen in other Centaurea species. While it has bright red flowers when it is young, its flowers fade and turn light pink during maturity. The plant mostly grows on the east bank of Lake Mogan. Thoughtless plucking, exposure to pesticides, afforestation and construction activities are the factors that threaten this species. Protected by the Gölbaşı Municipality, the plant is grown in special protection areas in Gölbaşı district. In addition, this flower species is protected within the scope of the Gölbaşı SEPA, the Love Flower Conservation and Monitoring Project under the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.