Asteraceae
Centaurea solstitialis

Yellow Starthistle

Spreading clump lightly coated with cobweb-like hairs. Stems upright and winged under leaves, stiff, much divided. Lower leaves linear, lobed; upper leaves becoming smaller until scale-like. Flower heads single, develop in shallow cup of brown bracts. Bracts tipped with very long, stiff, yellow spines surrounded by 2–4 short spines. Disk flowers elongated to create petal-like, fluffy flower head. Grows in disturbed soils, fields, along roads. Common at low and mid elevations. Highly aggressive noxious weed.

  • Rarity: Common
  • Flowering Time: All Summer
  • Life Cycle: Annual
  • Height: 8--32 inches
  • Habitat: Meadow, Disturbed
  • Found In:
  • Native: No

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