Flower ID: IMG_2896.JPG-08-22-2019 Flower name (scientific): Centaurea stoebe Linnaeus PY: 1753. [Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos (S. G. Gmelin ex Gugler) Hayek PY: 1931; Synonym of Centaurea stoebe L. subsp. australis (Pančić ex A. Kern.) Greuter PY: 2003]. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) sen-TAR-ee-ah STO-be Flower name (common): Spotted Knapweed Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: For the centaur Chiron. In Greek mythology the centaur was half-man and half-horse. Chiron was noted to have a wide knowledge of plants, and used this plant medicinally. Centaurea is from medieval Latin and derived from the Greek, kentaurieon, kentaur, a centaur. Specific epithet: Possibly from the Greek stoibe meaning padding or stuffing, perhaps a reference to how the plant was used. Common name origin: From the blackish-brown spots on the tips of the bracts (phyllaries). Knapweed from knopweed, a compounding of knop + weed, referencing the hard rounded ring of bracts (involucre). Flower description: Size: 0.9 to 1.1 inches (2.3 to 2.8 cm) Petal count: 0, ray florets are absent, but the marginal disc florets may be ray-like; disc florets 30 to 40. Color: pink to purple (white is very uncommon) Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 12 to 48 inches (30 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Gray soft hairy Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed. Size: Leaves are up to about 15 cm long and up to about 4 to 7 cm wide. Leaves near the flowers much reduced in size. Color: grayish green Hairy: Gray soft hairy to glabrous. Other: Shape: leaf, linear or oblong (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, invasive/Restricted in Wisconsin. Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Biennial Habitat: Disturbed sites, fields, prairies, roadsides, waste areas, sun, dry. Fruit: Seed heads are about 12 mm in length. Seed: Brown with ligther streaks, surface hairy, 3 to 3.5 mm in length, with a tuft of whitish stiff hairs at one end. Importance to wildlife: Plectocephalus americanus Similar species (if any): Centaurea nigrescens (Alpine Knapweed) and Centaurea jacea (Brown Knapweed) are similar to C. stoebe, though there are few observations of C. nigrescens and limited observations of C. jacea in Wisconsin. Careful examination of the phyllaries can help separate the species. Plectocephalus americanus (American knapweed, American basketflower) can appear similar, but is either absent (FNA) or rare in Wisconsin. Ethnobotany: Latitude: 44.795688 Longitude: -91.513663 Altitude: 275.50 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, NB, NS, ON, QC, YT) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 1 homotypic synonym for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): na Autonym:Centaurea stoebe subsp. stoebe (Other infraspecifics are Centaurea stoebe subsp. australis (Pančić ex A. Kerner) Greuter, Centaurea stoebe subsp. serbica (Prodan) Ochsmann. The former is present in North America whereas the latter has not been recorded in North America.) Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed