Iberian starthistle (Centaurea iberica)

Stem

• Up to 4 ft. tall; highly branched, bushy and covered with hairs; NO wings on upper stems

Leaves

• Exist as basal rosettes prior to bolting; older rosettes have a circle of straw-colored spines at the center

• Alternate, 4-8 in. long, mostly pinnate-divided, covered with short hairs and speckled with resin

Flower

• Pink to white; base of flower vase-shaped, 0.25-0.5 in. wide, 0.75-1 in. long and covered with stout, yellow spines 0.4-1 in. long

Root

• Stout taproot

Other

• Grows best in moist areas; often found in pastures, roadsides and along waterways; not known to occur in Nevada

• Annual or biennial; reproduces by seed

• Closely resembles purple starthistle in all ways except seed; seed of Iberian starthistle has plume of bristles extending from one end, purple starthistle does NOT

Control

• Prevent seed production through mowing or pulling

• Apply 2,4-D, clopyralid or dicamba in the rosette stage; picloram during bolting