spotted knapweed

Plants: Forbs/Herbs
Magnoliopsida > Asterales > Asteraceae > Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek
Spotted knapweed is an herbaceous biennial or perennial plant that invades open areas throughout most of the United States. Its name is derived from the black margins of the flower bract tips which give the flower heads a spotted look. A basal rosette of deeply lobed leaves is produced the first year. Rosette leaves are deeply lobed, petiolate and approximately 8 in. (20 cm) long. Flowering stems are 2/3- 4 ft. (0.2-1.2 m) tall and branched. Stem leaves are alternate and may be slightly lobed or linear. Leaves become smaller and less lobed toward the apex. Flowering occurs in the early summer. Flowers are purple to pink in color and occur on small flower heads. Spotted knapweed invades a wide variety of habitats including pastures, open forests, prairies, meadows, old fields, and disturbed areas. It displaces native vegetation and reduces the forage potential for wildlife and livestock. Spotted knapweed is native to Europe and western Asia. It was accidentally introduced into North America in contaminated alfalfa and clover seed in the late 1800s.

122 records

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Image Descriptor Description Photographer
1350073 Biological Control releasing bioagents University of Idaho Archive
5306094 Diagram or Graphic Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 558. USDA PLANTS Database
2153083 Feature(s) Roots Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
5358640 Feature(s)

Close-up view of the flower heads of a spotted knapweed plant, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Centaurea maculosa), showing the characteristic blackish spots on the bracts.

L.L. Berry
5374337 Feature(s)

stem and leaves

Joseph M. DiTomaso
1459266 Feature(s) Steve Dewey
1553214 Feature(s)

seed head

Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
2153086 Feature(s) Unopened flower showing spots on bracts Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
2153087 Flower(s) Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
2153088 Flower(s) Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
2153089 Flower(s) Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
2153090 Flower(s) Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
2153091 Flower(s) Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
1557001 Flower(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1553213 Flower(s) John Cardina
1557003 Flower(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1459274 Flower(s) Steve Dewey
1459916 Flower(s) Steve Dewey
1539020 Flower(s) James H. Miller
1539021 Flower(s) James H. Miller
0021034 Flower(s) Norman E. Rees
1148104 Flower(s) USDA APHIS PPQ Archive
1196014 Flower(s) Michael Rasy
1196030 Flower(s) Michael Shephard
1196144 Flower(s) Michael Rasy
1196231 Flower(s) Michael Shephard
1350048 Flower(s) seedhead Cindy Roche
5392027 Flower(s)

Flower

John M. Randall
5392031 Flower(s)

Flower

John M. Randall
5271012 Flower(s) Involucral bracts Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5374335 Flower(s) Joseph M. DiTomaso
5374336 Flower(s)

white flower head

Joseph M. DiTomaso
5271009 Flower(s) Top of inflorescence Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5352008 Flower(s) Marisa Williams
2153084 Flower(s) Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
2153085 Flower(s) Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
5229081 Flower(s) Richard Old
5229083 Flower(s) Richard Old
5351100 Flower(s) Marisa Williams
5352001 Flower(s) Marisa Williams
5352002 Flower(s) Marisa Williams
5352003 Flower(s) Marisa Williams
5352004 Flower(s) Marisa Williams
5352005 Flower(s) Marisa Williams
2153081 Foliage Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
2153082 Foliage Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program Archive
5374338 Foliage

rosette

Joseph M. DiTomaso
1557011 Foliage John Cardina
1557012 Foliage John Cardina
1557013 Foliage John Cardina
1557014 Foliage

basal leaves

Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557015 Foliage

pubescence on the underside of young leaf.

John Cardina
1553211 Foliage Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1553212 Foliage

basal rosette

Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557017 Foliage

basal rosette

John Cardina
1553216 Fruit(s) Ken Chamberlain
1557016 Fruit(s) Ken Chamberlain
1551078 Fruit(s) Ken Chamberlain
5391592 Fruit(s) Barry Rice
5391593 Fruit(s) Barry Rice
5306092 Fruit(s) Steve Hurst
5358645 Infestation

Landscape view of extensive infestations of spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Centaurea maculosa), in bloom.

L.L. Berry
1624010 Infestation Native to Eurasia, is a serious problem on rangelands in the western United States. It is a particular threat to pristine natural areas such as the Grand Teton National Park. Carol DiSalvo
5271011 Infestation Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5271007 Infestation Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5352007 Infestation Marisa Williams
5392029 Infestation John M. Randall
5392030 Infestation

Bigger plant

John M. Randall
1350069 Infestation suitable for a biocontrol program University of Idaho Archive
1459268 Infestation Steve Dewey
1350045 Infestation in Northern Idaho University of Idaho Archive
1459273 Infestation Steve Dewey
2308109 Infestation John M. Randall
1459271 Management Hand-pulled knapweed Steve Dewey
1459272 Plant(s) Steve Dewey
1459269 Plant(s) Steve Dewey
1459270 Plant(s) Steve Dewey
0886049 Plant(s) Jim Story
1459267 Plant(s) Rosette Steve Dewey
1539018 Plant(s) James H. Miller
1539019 Plant(s) James H. Miller
1350046 Plant(s) rosette Linda Wilson
1350047 Plant(s) Cindy Roche
1350068 Plant(s) University of Idaho Archive
1196233 Plant(s)

in flower

Michael Shephard
1196234 Plant(s) Michael Shephard
1196225 Plant(s) Michael Rasy
1196028 Plant(s) Herbarium specimen Michael Shephard
5229080 Plant(s) Richard Old
1561074 Plant(s)

photo taken on 21 July 1993

Catherine Herms
1557009 Plant(s)

After most seeds have been dispersed.

Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557010 Plant(s)

in flower

John Cardina
1557002 Plant(s)

in flower

Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557004 Plant(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557005 Plant(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
5392032 Plant(s)

Young plant

John M. Randall
5379604 Plant(s)

in flower in June

James H. Miller
5392028 Plant(s)

Big plant

John M. Randall
5352006 Plant(s)

in flower

Marisa Williams
5271010 Plant(s) Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5358637 Plant(s)

Spotted knapweed plant, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Centaurea maculosa), in bloom.

L.L. Berry
5358638 Plant(s)

Rosette of spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Centaurea maculosa), beginning to bolt.

L.L. Berry
5358639 Plant(s)

Spotted knapweed plant, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Centaurea maculosa), just beginning to bolt.

L.L. Berry
5360184 Plant(s) K. George Beck
5374334 Plant(s)

in flower

Joseph M. DiTomaso
5271008 Seed(s)

seed head

Leslie J. Mehrhoff
5358641 Seedling(s)

Seedling spotted knapweed plant, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Centaurea maculosa).

L.L. Berry
5374339 Seedling(s) Joseph M. DiTomaso
1557006 Seedling(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557007 Seedling(s) John Cardina
1557008 Seedling(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1553215 Seedling(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557018 Seedling(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557019 Seedling(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557020 Seedling(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1557021 Seedling(s)

cotyledons

Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
1196011 Seedling(s) UAF Cooperative Extension Archive
1553210 Seedling(s) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive
0021035 Stand Field 20 miles east of Missoula Norman E. Rees
0021036 Stand Field 20 miles east of Missoula Norman E. Rees
0021037 Stand Field 20 miles east of Missoula Norman E. Rees
0021038 Stand Field 20 miles east of Missoula Norman E. Rees


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