Centaurea calcitrapa
From Bugwoodwiki
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Overview
- Appearance
- Centaurea calcitrapa is a biennial to perennial plant. It grows 2-3 ft. (0.61-0.91 m) tall.
- Foliage
- The stems and leaves are covered with fine hairs. Lower and basal leaves are divided or deeply lobed. Leaves become less divided toward the apex of the plant.
- Flowers
- Flowering occurs from July to October, when purple to pink blooms develop at the ends of the stems. Floral bracts are tipped with 1 in. (2.5 cm) long, straw colored spines.
- Fruit
- The fruit is an achene 0.08-0.16 in. (2-4 mm) long which lacks a pappus.
- Ecological Threat
- A native of southern Europe, Centaurea calcitrapa produces prolific seeds and often invades floodplains, dry forests and grasslands.
Resources
Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board [1]
University of California, Jepson Flora Project[2]
Nevada Department of Agriculture [3]
Oregon Department of Agriculture[4]
California Invasive Plant Council [5]
USDA NRCS PLANTS [6]
USDA ARS GRIN [7]
www.eFloras.org [8]
Images from Bugwood.org
