 Spotted Knapweed
Centaurea maculosa
Family: Asteraceae
Description and Life Cycle
A short-lived perennial, spreading mainly by seed. Mature plants are 0.3-1.5 m tall, with
long, fibrous tap roots. Stems are somewhat hairy when young and highly branched. The basal
and lower stem leaves are pinnately lobed; the upper leaves have smooth margins. Young leaves
have a fine coating of hairs. Flowers are 1-1.5 cm long, pink to purple; bracts of the flower
head are black tipped, giving the head a spotted appearance. Flowering occurs from July through
to September. Seeds are black or brown, 3mm long, and topped with bristles up to half the length
of the seed. The plant contains volatile oils with a distinctive smell and an extremely bitter
taste.
 British Columbia Biological
Control Agents
References
Cranston, R., D. Ralph and B. Wikeem. 2005. Field guide to noxious and other selected weeds
of British Columbia. Gov. of BC. 94 p.
Powell, G. W., A. Sturko, B. Wikeem and P. Harris. 1994. Field guide to the biological
control of weeds in British Columbia. B.C. Min. For. Res. Prog.
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