2677

Forb
Winter annual

Non-native: Mediterranean Europe

Documented growing wild in GA NC SC

Uncommon in Coastal Plain of GA-NC-SC, uncommon in SC Piedmont, rare elsewhere

Look for it in fields, roadsides, disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora

To see a detailed map, click here

INVASIVE

This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:

• SC List of Regulated Pest Plant Species, 2017

 

 

IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Leaf margins spiny

LEAVES:
Simple
Mostly alternate

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Disc: Yellow
Rays: Absent
Bisexual
Inferior ovary

FRUIT:
Spring/Summer
Achene

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Campanulids: Asterales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Centaurea benedicta   FAMILY Asteraceae__

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Cnicus benedictus   FAMILY Asteraceae__

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 179-24-004:
Centaurea benedicta   FAMILY Asteraceae__