Centaurea melitensis 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
-
Description
Species Description - Annual 1.5–7 dm, lightly arachnoid when young and with some more persistent coarser crisp hairs; stem narrowly winged by the decurrent lf-bases; basal and lower cauline lvs oblanceolate, toothed to lyrate-pinnatifid, 3–15 cm × 5–35 mm, usually deciduous; middle and upper lvs smaller, becoming linear-oblong and entire; invol 8–15 mm, broad-based, its middle and outer bracts slenderly spine-tipped, the central spine 5–9 mm; inner bracts weakly spinose or merely tapering, not at all enlarged apically, generally purple-tinged; fls yellow; pappus 1.5–3 mm; 2n=24, 36. A weed in waste places; native of the Mediterranean region, occasionally found in our range. June–Sept.
-
Common Names
Maltese star-thistle