Centaurea jacea L.
Family: Asteraceae
brown knapweed, brown-ray knapweed
Centaurea jacea image
Emmet J. Judziewicz  
Centaurea jacea image
Emmet J. Judziewicz  
Centaurea jacea image
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)  
Etymology: Centaurea: ancient Greek plant-name, poetically associated with Chiron, the Centaur, but without wholly satisfactory explanation
Plants: erect, perennial, 8"-32" tall forb
Leaves: usually either undivided or toothed; lower more than 1/3" wide; larger ones possibly with a few lobes
Flowers: head 1"-1 1/4" wide with purple disk flowers, loosely thistle-like, bracts (phyllaries) fringed with brownish "eyelashes"; inflorescence a solitary head at the ends of the branches; blooms June-Sept.
Habitat: fields, roadsides, disturbed areas
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized
Centaurea jacea image
Emmet J. Judziewicz  
Centaurea jacea image
Steve C. Garske  
Centaurea jacea image
Steve C. Garske  
Centaurea jacea image
Kurt Stüber  
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image
Centaurea jacea image