Centaurea calcitrapa L.

  • Authority

    Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

  • Family

    Asteraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Centaurea calcitrapa L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Branching biennial 1–8 dm, arachnoid-villous or glabrate; lvs small, pinnatifid with narrow lobes, or the upper entire; heads numerous, narrow; invol 10–18 mm, its bracts weakly spinose-ciliate and stoutly spine-tipped, the larger spines 1–3 cm; fls few, purple; pappus none; 2n=18. Native of Europe, now widespread in the U.S. as a roadside weed. June–Sept.

  • Common Names

    purple star-thistle