Spotted Knapweed
Centaurea stoebe
Synonyms: Centaurea biebersteinii (misapplied), Centaurea maculosa (misapplied), Centaurea paniculata ( misapplied), Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos
![Involucral bracts of Spotted Knapweed: Centaurea stoebe (Synonyms: Centaurea biebersteinii (misapplied), Centaurea maculosa (misapplied), Centaurea paniculata ( misapplied), Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)](maculosa/centaureamaculosa2.jpg)
The photo above shows the flower head of spotted
knapweed as seen along Road #23 at the Mt. Adams Viewpoint about one-half mile
south of Road #8810..........August 26, 2005. Note the long spine
at the tip of each dark involucral bract, and the numerous comb-like lateral
spines. See the lowest photo for a close-up of the involucral bracts.
![Leaf of Spotted Knapweed: Centaurea stoebe (Synonyms: Centaurea biebersteinii (misapplied), Centaurea maculosa (misapplied), Centaurea paniculata ( misapplied), Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)](maculosa/centaureamaculosalf.jpg)
The photo above shows one of the lowermost,
pinnatifid leaves of spotted knapweed.
![Stem leaf of Spotted Knapweed: Centaurea stoebe (Synonyms: Centaurea biebersteinii (misapplied), Centaurea maculosa (misapplied), Centaurea paniculata ( misapplied), Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)](maculosa/centaureamaculosalvs.jpg)
The upper most stem leaves are much reduced
in size becoming trifoliate or simple with linear to slightly oblanceolate lobes
or main section.
![Inflorescence of Spotted Knapweed: Centaurea stoebe (Synonyms: Centaurea biebersteinii (misapplied), Centaurea maculosa (misapplied), Centaurea paniculata ( misapplied), Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)](maculosa/centaureamaculosa.jpg)
The photo above shows the branched form of
the upper stem of spotted knapweed.
![Stem leaf of Spotted Knapweed: Centaurea stoebe (Synonyms: Centaurea biebersteinii (misapplied), Centaurea maculosa (misapplied), Centaurea paniculata ( misapplied), Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)](maculosa/centaureamaclf.jpg)
The photo above shows a pinnatifid leaf of
a midstem leaf of spotted knapweed.
![Involucral bracts of Spotted Knapweed: Centaurea stoebe (Synonyms: Centaurea biebersteinii (misapplied), Centaurea maculosa (misapplied), Centaurea paniculata ( misapplied), Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)](maculosa/centaureamaculosainvol.jpg)
Note the dark-tipped involucral bracts with comb-like lateral
bristles on the involucre of spotted knapweed.
Paul Slichter