| yellow starthistle | USDA PLANTS Symbol: CESO3 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs |
| Centaurea solstitialis L. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Asterales: Asteraceae |
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| Synonym(s): yellow star thistle, yellow star-thistle | |
| Native Range: Africa, temp. Asia, Europe (GRIN); | |
Yellow starthistle is an annual that can grow from ¼ - 3 ft. (0.1-1 m) in height. Leaves near the base are petiolate, dissected, 2-6 in. (5-15 cm) long and usually absent at time of flowering. Leaves further up the stem are decurrent, entire and 0.4-4 in. (1-10 cm) long. Flowering occurs from June to October, when yellow flowers appear in heads at the tips of the branches. Bracts that subtend the flower head have a small cluster of spines and a stout central spine 0.4-1 in. (10-25mm) in length. Yellow starthistle was accidentally introduced into the United States in the mid- 1800’s as contaminate of alfalfa seed. Yellow starthistle invades woodlands, pastures, roadsides and fields. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Plant(s); in flower Charles Turner, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Peggy Greb, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Spines are equal to or greater than 45° angle from stem Cindy Roche, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Seedling stage Cindy Roche, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Bolting stage Cindy Roche, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Rosette Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Spines Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Cindy Roche, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 560. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org Alternative content
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 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. Alternative content
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