Spotted Knapweed
Centaurea stoebe
Synonyms: Centaurea biebersteinii (misapplied), Centaurea maculosa (misapplied), Centaurea paniculata ( misapplied), Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos
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.
The photo above shows one of the lowermost,
pinnatifid leaves of spotted knapweed.
The upper most stem leaves are much reduced
in size becoming trifoliate or simple with linear to slightly oblanceolate lobes
or main section.
The photo above shows the branched form of
the upper stem of spotted knapweed.
The photo above shows a pinnatifid leaf of
a midstem leaf of spotted knapweed.
Note the dark-tipped involucral bracts with comb-like lateral
bristles on the involucre of spotted knapweed.
Paul Slichter
