Iberian starthistle (Centaurea iberica)

Category A Weed

Sunflower family (Asteraceae)

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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

              Images

              Iberian Starthistle Plant
              Mature Plant              		 Iberian Starthistle Flower
              Flower              		 Iberian Starthistle Rosette
              Rosette
              Iberian Starthistle Seed
              Seed              		   Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide
              Nevada Noxious Weed Guide