Spotted knapweed – Centaurea stoebe
Print
EmailCentaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek
Asteraceae (Aster family)
MI Status
Non-native
Life cycle
Biennial or short-lived perennial.
Leaves
First-year leaves originate from a basal rosette,followed by a flowering stem in the second year. Basal leaves are deeply and irregularly lobed on long stalks; stem leaves are alternate and finely dissected. Leaves are grayish green and roughly hairy.
Stems
Erect, wiry stems elongate during the second year, up to 6 feet tall with multiple branching. Stems are roughly hairy and often green to purple-striped.
Flowers and fruit
Terminal and axillary heads consist of purple to pink disk flowers above encircled by distinctly black-tipped bracts below. The seed is enclosed in a single-seeded, olive-green to brown fruit with a bristly pappus that can attach to animals for transport.
Reproduction
Seeds.
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
MSU students partner with Michigan communities to improve trail access
Published on May 30, 2025
-
Celebrating 100 years of Michigan State University Extension in Alcona County
Published on October 19, 2017
-
Is an internship right for you?
Published on July 6, 2022
-
Protecting Michigan’s environment and wildlife through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Published on September 1, 2021
-
Michigan Sea Grant approaches Great Lakes issues with a statewide outlook and a strong local focus
Published on August 23, 2021
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.