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Asteraceae
Centaurea

not marked as a favorite taxon *Centaurea stoebe Linnaeus ssp. australis (Pančić & A. Kern.) Greuter. Common name: Spotted Knapweed, Bushy Knapweed. Phenology: Late Jun-Nov. Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Taxonomy Comments: Complications about typification make the appropriate name to apply to the tetraploid entity unclear. Several subspecies are recognized in Europe (see POWO 2024).

Synonymy ⓘ: = Can, K4, POWO; = Centaurea biebersteinii DC. — K1; = Centaurea maculosa Lamarck — C, F, G, GrPl, Oh3, RAB, SE1, Tat, W, misapplied; = Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (S.G.Gmel. ex Gugler) Hayek — Ar, Fl7, FNA19, Mi, NE, NS, NY, Pa, Tn, Va, WH3; > Centaurea biebersteinii DC. — Il; > Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (S.G.Gmel. ex Gugler) Hayek — Il. Basionym: Centaurea australis Pančić ex A.Kern. 1883

Links to other floras: = Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos - FNA19

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Heliophily ⓘ: 9

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image #1 of Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect biennial/perennial of roadsides and other disturbed areas. Invasive native of Europe.

Stems: Stems wiry, branched, loosely gray-hairy.

Leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on the stem; lower leaves lance-shaped in outline and deeply divided into linear segments, 3-6 in. long (upper leaves smaller, entire or divided), gray-hairy (becoming smooth), gland-dotted.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) numerous, stalked, on wide-spreading branches; heads pink to purple, 1/2-1 in. wide, consisting of tubular disk florets (no rays). Tightly held bracts with fringed, black tips surrround the oval to urn-shaped base of each head.

Fruits:

Comments:

Height: 1-4 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect biennial/perennial of roadsides and other disturbed areas. Invasive native of Europe.

stems: Stems wiry, branched, loosely gray-hairy.

leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on the stem; lower leaves lance-shaped in outline and deeply divided into linear segments, 3-6 in. long (upper leaves smaller, entire or divided), gray-hairy (becoming smooth), gland-dotted.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) numerous, stalked, on wide-spreading branches; heads pink to purple, 1/2-1 in. wide, consisting of tubular disk florets (no rays). Tightly held bracts with fringed, black tips surrround the oval to urn-shaped base of each head.

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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