Species

Centaurea calcitrapa

Etymology

Centaurea: From the classical name kentaurion (Greek) or centaureum (Latin) in the fables of ancient Greece, which describe the plant healing the foot of Chiron, a centaur famed for his knowledge of medicine and astronomy.

Common Name(s)

star thistle

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Flowering

November, December, January, February, March, April, (May)

Flower Colours

Red / Pink

Fruiting

november, december, january, february, march, april, may

Year Naturalised

1855

Origin

Mediterranean

This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010