Purple Star Thistle

Scientific name: Centaurea calcitrapa L.

Common names: Purple star thistle, red star thistle, common star thistle

Native To: Mediterranean Region

Date of U.S. Introduction: Early 1900s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Accidental

Impact: Crowds out native species

Current U.S. Distribution: PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)

Management Plans: Plants

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Centaurea calcitrapa L.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Centaurea calcitrapa L. (Purple Starthistle) - Noxious and Nuisance Plant Management Information System (PMIS)
United States Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution

Centaurea calcitrapa Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Centaurea calcitrapa L. - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Plant profile for Centaurea calcitrapa - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Illustrations; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Centaurea genus - EncycloWeedia
California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Purple starthistle
Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Habitat; Controls

Purple Starthistle Identification
State of Washington. King County Department of Natural Resources. Water and Land Resources Division.
Photographs; Legal Aspects

Centaurea calcitrapa - CalPhotos
University of California - Berkeley. Digital Library Project.
Photographs

Managing Purple and Iberian Starthistles (PDF | 134 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Purple Starthistle Wanted Poster--Dead, Not Alive! (PDF | 168 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Problem Thistles of Oregon (PDF | 125 KB)
Oregon State University. Extension and Experiment Station.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution

Purple Starthistle and Iberian Starthistle
Washington State University. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Distribution; Controls; Legal Aspects

Centaurea calcitrapa L. (Red Star-thistle)
BioImages Virtual Field-Guide.
Photographs

Centaurea calcitrapa
California Invasive Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Purple Starthistle - Weed Alert
State of California. Santa Barbara County Weed Management Area.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Legal Aspects

Purple Starthistle - IVM Technical Bulletin
Integrated Pest Management Information Service.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

Centaurea calcitrapa (Purple starthistle)
Nature Conservancy. Global Invasive Species Initiative.
Photographs