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