Centaurea
Centaurea americana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Genus: Centaurea L.
Species
Around 350-500 species; see text. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 614 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Divisions Green algae Chlorophyta Charophyta Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta—liverworts Anthocerotophyta—hornworts Bryophyta—mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) †Rhyniophyta—rhyniophytes †Zosterophyllophyta—zosterophylls Lycopodiophyta—clubmosses †Trimerophytophyta—trimerophytes Pteridophyta—ferns and horsetails Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta—seed ferns Pinophyta—conifers Cycadophyta—cycads Ginkgophyta—ginkgo Gnetophyta—gnetae Magnoliophyta—flowering plants... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Orders See text. ... Families Alseuosmiaceae Argophyllaceae Asteraceae - Daisies Calyceraceae Campanulaceae (incl. ... Diversity About 1500 genera and 23,000 species Type Genus Aster L. Subfamilies Barnadesioideae Cichorioideae Tribe Arctotidae Tribe Cardueae Tribe Eremothamneae Tribe Lactuceae Tribe Liabeae Tribe Mutisieae Tribe Tarchonantheae Tribe Vernonieae Asteroideae Tribe Anthemideae Tribe Astereae Tribe Calenduleae Tribe Eupatorieae Tribe Gnaphalieae Tribe Helenieae Tribe Heliantheae Tribe Inuleae Tribe Plucheae... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ...

Centaurea (syn. Cyanus L.) is a genus of about 350-500 species of herbaceous thistles and thistle-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, mostly native to the Old World. Common names for different species include star thistle, cornflower, knapweed and bluet. Some species are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens. In scientific classification, synonymy is the existence of multiple systematic names to label the same organism. ... A painting of Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as Carl von Linné, and who wrote under the Latinized name Carolus Linnaeus (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish scientist who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of taxonomy. ... Herbs: basil Herbs (IPA: hÉ™()b, or É™b; see pronunciation differences) are seed-bearing plants without woody stems, which die down to the ground after flowering. ... Milk thistle flowerhead Thistledown a method of seed dispersal by wind. ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Diversity About 1500 genera and 23,000 species Type Genus Aster L. Subfamilies Barnadesioideae Cichorioideae Tribe Arctotidae Tribe Cardueae Tribe Eremothamneae Tribe Lactuceae Tribe Liabeae Tribe Mutisieae Tribe Tarchonantheae Tribe Vernonieae Asteroideae Tribe Anthemideae Tribe Astereae Tribe Calenduleae Tribe Eupatorieae Tribe Gnaphalieae Tribe Helenieae Tribe Heliantheae Tribe Inuleae Tribe Plucheae... The Old World consists of those parts of Earth known to Europeans, Asians, and Africans before the voyages of Christopher Columbus; it includes Europe, Asia, and Africa (collectively known as Africa-Eurasia), plus surrounding islands. ... Binomial name Centaurea cyanus L. Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower) is a small annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe. ... Petunia This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Species

Species in this genus include:

• Centaurea adpressa
• Centaurea aggregata
• Centaurea alpestris
• Centaurea alpina
• Centaurea americana – American Star-thistle
• Centaurea argentea
• Centaurea aspera – Rough Star-thistle
• Centaurea atropurpurea
• Centaurea babylonica
• Centaurea behen
• Centaurea bella
• Centaurea bovina
• Centaurea bulbosa
• Centaurea cachinalensis
• Centaurea calcitrapa – Purple Star Thistle or Caltrop - Europe
• Centaurea calcitrapoides
• Centaurea chilensis
• Centaurea cineraria – Dusty Miller
• Centaurea clementei
• Centaurea cyanus – Cornflower
• Centaurea dealbata
• Centaurea debeauxii
• Centaurea depressa
• Centaurea diffusa – Diffuse Knapweed
• Centaurea diluta
• Centaurea dschungarica
• Centaurea eriophora
• Centaurea floccosa
• Centaurea gayana
• Centaurea glastifolia
• Centaurea grinensis
• Centaurea horrida
• Centaurea hypoleuca
• Centaurea iberica – A spiny Mediterranean species thought to be the "thistle" mentioned in Genesis
• Centaurea imperialis
• Centaurea jacea
• Centaurea kasakorum
• Centaurea kopetaghensis
• Centaurea kotschyana
• Centaurea leucophylla
• Centaurea macrocephala
• Centaurea maculosa – Spotted Knapweed; eastern Europe; introduced in North America, now an invasive weed which releases a toxin that reduces growth of forage species.
• Centaurea marschalliana
• Centaurea melitensis
• Centaurea moschata - Sweet Sultan
• Centaurea monocephala
• Centaurea montana – Perennial Cornflower
• Centaurea nigra – Black Knapweed or Common Knapweed
• Centaurea nigrescens – Tyrol Knapweed; southern and eastern Europe
• Centaurea orientalis
• Centaurea ovina
• Centaurea paniculata
• Centaurea phrygia
• Centaurea pindicola
• Centaurea polypodiifolia
• Centaurea pulcherrima
• Centaurea ragusina
• Centaurea repens – Russian Knapweed (also Turkestan Thistle) is a perennial, native to southern Russia and Asia Minor to Altay Mountains and Afghanistan. It is a weed in parts of its native range as well as in places where it has been accidentally naturalized. The flowerhead is lilac and not spiny.
• Centaurea rothrockii
• Centaurea ruthenica
• Centaurea rutifolia
• Centaurea sadleriana – Pannonian knapweed
• Centaurea scabiosa – Greater Knapweed
• Centaurea seridis
• Centaurea sibirica
• Centaurea simplicicaulis
• Centaurea solstitialis – Yellow Star Thistle; Europe.
• Centaurea squarrosa
• Centaurea stenolepis
• Centaurea stoebe
• Centaurea sulphurea
• Centaurea transalpina
• Centaurea tchihatcheffii - Endangered species, Mogan Lake, Ankara, Turkey

Centaurea tchihatcheffii

• Centaurea trichocephala
• Centaurea triumfettii
• Centaurea uniflora
• Centaurea virgata

Binomial name Centaurea americana, also called American Basketflower, is native throughout most of North America. ... Binomial name Centaurea calcitrapa L. The Purple star thistle or Caltrop is a plant native of Europe. ... Binomial name Centaurea cineraria L. Synonyms Centaurea gymnocarpa Centaurea cineraria (Dusty Miller) is a small plant in the family Asteraceae, and is one of several plants that go by the common name Dusty Miller (see also Senecio cineraria and Lychnis coronaria). ... Binomial name Centaurea cyanus Centaurea cyanus is a species of the genus Centaurea and is commonly referred to as cornflower. ... Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) is a member of the genus Centaurea of the family Asteraceae. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Binomial name Centaurea maculosa, the Spotted Knapweed is a species of Centaurea native to eastern Europe. ... Binomial name L. Centaurea melitensis; common name: tocalote. ... Binomial name L. Centaurea montana (Sweet Sultan; syn. ... Binomial name L. Synonyms Cyanus montanus L. (Hill) Centaurea angustifolia Mill. ... Binomial name Centaurea nigrescens Willd. ... Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to... The Altay Mountains (Russian: ; Mongolian: , Altai) are a mountain range in central Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together, and where the great rivers Irtysh, Ob and Yenisei have their sources. ... Binomial name Janka The Pannonian knapweed is a Pannonian sub-endemic plant, mostly found on the Pannonian Basin. ... Centaurea scabiosa Categories: Plant stubs | Asteraceae ... Binomial name Centaurea solstitialis L. The yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) is native to the Mediterranean region, but since its introduction to North America in the mid-nineteenth century it has become a large-scale noxious weed there. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ...

Nectar

Centaurea are copious nectar producers, especially on high-lime soils, and are major honey plants for beekeepers. Star thistle varietal honey is light and slightly tangy. It is one of the finest honeys produced in the US, but as it is abundant, some of it is fraudulently relabeled and sold as the scarce, expensive Sourwood honey of the Appalachian Mountains. In Greek mythology, nectar and ambrosia are the food of the gods. ... Loess field in Germany Surface-water-gley developed in glacial till, Northern Ireland Technically, soil forms the pedosphere: the interface between the lithosphere (rocky part of the planet) and the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. ... A jar of honey, shown with a wooden honey server and scones/biscuits. ... Beekeeping (or apiculture) is the maintenance of one or more hives of honeybees. ... Binomial name Oxydendrum arboreum (L.) DC. Sourwood or Sorrel Tree is a small tree or large shrub, native to eastern North America. ... Appalachians in North Carolina The Appalachian Mountains (French: les Appalaches) are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. ...

The high nectar yield of the genus makes it very attractive to insects such as butterflies and day-flying moths such as Six-spot Burnet. The larvae of some other Lepidoptera species use Centaurea species as food plants - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Centaurea. Insects (Class Insecta) are a major group of arthropods and the most diverse group of animals on the Earth, with over a million described species—more than all other animal groups combined. ... Superfamilies and families Superfamily Hedyloidea: Hedylidae Superfamily Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae Superfamily Papilionoidea: Papilionidae Pieridae Nymphalidae Lycaenidae Riodinidae A butterfly is an insect of the order Lepidoptera. ... A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. ... Binomial name Zygaena filipendulae (Linnaeus, 1758) Six-spot Burnet (Zygaenidae filipendula) The Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) is a day-flying moth of the family Zygaenidae. ... A larval insect A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... Superfamilies Butterflies Hesperioidea Papilionoidea Moths Acanthopteroctetoidea Alucitoidea Axioidea Bombycoidea Calliduloidea Choreutoidea Cossoidea Drepanoidea Epermenioidea Eriocranioidea Galacticoidea Gelechioidea Geometroidea Gracillarioidea Hedyloidea Hepialoidea Heterobathmioidea Hyblaeoidea Immoidea Incurvarioidea Lasiocampoidea Lophocoronoidea Micropterigoidea Mimallonoidea Mnesarchaeoidea Neopseustoidea Nepticuloidea Noctuoidea Palaephatoidea Pterophoroidea Pyraloidea Schreckensteinioidea Sesioidea Simaethistoidea Thyridoidea Tineoidea Tischerioidea Tortricoidea Urodoidea Whalleyanoidea Yponomeutoidea Zygaenoidea The order Lepidoptera... Centaurea species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species including: Bucculatrix centaureae (feeds on ) Coleophora didymella (feeds on ) Coleophora case-bearers: Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata (recorded on ) The Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia Grey Pug Eupithecia subfuscata (recorded on ) Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica (recorded on...

Centaurea solstitialis star thistle Image copyleft: Image taken by me, released under GFDL Pollinator 02:57, 13 Mar 2004 (UTC) ( ) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (640x975, 162 KB)Yellow star thistle from http://www. ...

Centaurea cyanus Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 341 KB) Centaurea cyanus in Gouda, bedrijventerrein goudse poort, juni 2004 photo by TeunSpaans first upload at nl. ...

References

• Flora Europaea: Centaurea
• USDA Plant Profile: Centaurea
• Flora of China: Centaurea species list
• Flora of Chile: Centaurea (pdf)
• Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The Plant Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 706 p. ISBN 0-521-34060-8.
• Robbins, W.W., M. K. Bellue, and W. S. Ball. 1970. Weeds of California. State of California, Dept. of Agriculture. 547 p.