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Species
Information
- yellow
starthistle
- Centaurea
solstitialis L.
- USDA
Symbol: CESO3
- Oregon
Noxious Weed Designation: B, T
- Pictures
ALERT: PLEASE CALL 1-866-INVADER IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE FOUND THIS SPECIES
Identification:
Annual; blooms July to September when water is available. Grows 2 to 3 ft tall. Stems rigid, branching, winged, and covered with cottony hairs. Basal leaves deeply lobed while upper leaves entire and sharply pointed. Flower heads yellow, located singly on the ends of branches and armed with thorns up to 3/4 inch long. Some seeds have parachute hairs and some don't, resulting in a distribution that produces dense stands and rapid spreading. Germinates in spring and fall.
Impacts: Yellow starthistle will grow wherever poorly competative environments exist, predominantly in dry slopes, grasslands, overgrazed rangelands, pastures, edges of cropland, roadsides, and disturbed areas. It is an aggressive, adaptable weed that inhibits the growth of desirable plants in pasture and rangeland. Toxic to horses the plant causes “chewing disease”.
Biological
Controls: There are 6 biocontrol agents approved for release, 5 of which are established in Oregon.
Oregon
Maps of Yellow Starthistle Distribution
Links:
USDA
Plants Database information on yellow starthistle
GRIN
Database information on yellow starthistle
Oregon Department
of Agriculture information on yellow starthistle
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