American Knapweed

(Centaurea americana)

 

Color Photograph: © by and courtesy of Pschemp, Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

American Knapweed (Centaurea americana)

Identification: Flower, solitary, a large (2 to 3 inches in diameter) round head with an apical spray of florets. Florets rose to lavender in color, divided at the apex. Flower bracts elongate with apical third edged with a row of large spines giving flower head a feathery appearance. Stem expanded at the base of the flower head. Leaves slender, oblong, untoothed or divided. Plant 1 to 4 feet in height.

Distribution: Found primarily in the Plains States and the American southwest. In the east found in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, and South Carolina.

Habitat: American Knapweed is a grassland species found in prairies and fields.

Flowering period: June to August.

American Knapweed (Centaurea americana)

Similar Species: The large, solitary flower heads will separate this species from other Centaurea species.

Similar Species

No Similar Species