Centaurea solstitialis (weed)
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Author(s): Javier Martin
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Centaurea solstitialis (weed) L. - (yellow starthistle)
The weeds is native to southern Europe and now wide-spread in several temperate regions. It has invaded parts of South America, Australia and the rangelands of western North America (first record 1869). Dense infestations may contain up to 5 million plants per hectare. Livestock avoid grazing infested pastures due to the spiny flower-heads of the weed. Seeds are mainly dispersed by human activities like vehicles or through contaminated hay.
For management a combination of prescribed burning, herbicide application and reseeding of native broadleaf and grass species is recommended. The plant grows up to a height of about 1 m or more and has a taproot which may extend to a depth of up to 1 m. The lower leaves are 5-15 cm long while the upper leaves 1-3 cm. The flower-head has 1-2 cm long spines. The flowers are yellow and produce 2-3 mm long fruits, most of them with a pappus.
| Vernacular names | |
|---|---|
| • Deutsch: | Sonnwend-Flockenblume |
| • English: | yellow starthistle |
| • Español: | abrepuño amarillo starthistle Amarillo |
| • Français: | centaurée du solstice |
For details see the respective page in Wikipedia.
- Other images of Centaurea solstitialis (weed) (IPM Images - click to enlarge)
young plant
foliage
foliage
seeds
infestation
infestation
