Weed Seed: Centaurea solstitialis (Yellow starthistle)

Invasive Plant - Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)

Family

Asteraceae

Common name

Yellow starthistle

Regulation

Prohibited Noxious, Class 1 in the Canadian Weed Seeds Order, 2016 under the Seeds Act. All imported and domestic seed must be free of Prohibited Noxious weed seeds.

Listed on the List of Pests Regulated by Canada established under the Plant Protection Act.

Distribution

Canadian: Previously reported from AB, BC,ON and SK; however, no populations have persisted to date (CFIA 2014^Footnote 1).

Worldwide: Native to northern Africa and eastern Europe across to central Asia. Introduced in other parts of Africa and Europe, as well as North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand (CABI 2016^Footnote 2). Found in many U.S. states (USDA-NRCS 2016^Footnote 3).

Duration of life cycle

Winter annual

Seed or fruit type

Achene

Identification features

Size

• Achene length: 1.8 - 3.0 mm
• Achene width: 1.0 - 1.5 mm
• Pappus length: 1.0 - 4.5 mm

Shape

• Oblong-shaped achene with rounded bottom and flat top, compressed; large notch near the base

Surface texture

• Achenes from the centre of the flower head have a glossy surface; achenes from the outer edge have a dull surface

Colour

• Most achenes are straw yellow with a pale collar, base and a central stripe
• Achenes from the outer edge are dark brown with reddish-brown and pale yellow streaks

Other features

• Achenes are strongly dimorphic: the achenes from the centre of the flower head are more numerous and have a long, white pappus
• The less numerous achenes from the outer edge of the flower do not have a pappus

Habitat and crop association

Pastures, rangelands, grasslands, and roadsides in dry areas (CFIA 2014^Footnote 1). Occasionally found as a weed of alfalfa and grain crops but mainly a weed of rangelands (CABI 2016^Footnote 2).

General information

Yellow starthistle was accidentally introduced into California during the Gold Rush era of the mid-1800s (DiTomaso and Healy 2007^Footnote 4). The species is a problem in California with millions of hectares infested, and is spreading into Washington, Oregon and Idaho (CABI 2016^Footnote 2).

The seeds are locally dispersed by the spiny seed heads caught in animal fur and farm machinery, and contaminated crop seed is a risk for introduction into new areas (Zouhar 2002^Footnote 5).

Similar species

Malta knapweed (Centaurea melitensis)

• Malta knapweed achenes are a similar size, oblong shape, and pale colour as the achenes of yellow starthistle from the inside of the seed head.
• Malta knapweed has a deeper basal notch, a shorter pappus with wider bristles, and a grey background colour compared to yellow starthistle achenes.

Photos

Similar species