Knapweed definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Invasion biology introduced species summary project. Bracts at the base of each flower head are covered with dark brown or black fringed margins. Centaurea maculosa has been used to describe the diploid and tetraploid form, however the diploid form has been called centaurea stoebe which, having been published before c. Diffuse knapweed is native to the eastern mediterranean region to western asia, and from the former republic of the soviet union to western germany. Once established, the knapweed plants can dominate an area and significantly reduce desirable vegetation. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. During the first year of growth, diffuse knapweed appears as a rosette in spring or fall. Wicked weed of the west science smithsonian magazine. Common names for this genus are centaury, centory, starthistles, knapweeds, centaureas and the. Not listed on any labels except for diffuse knapweed on the banvel label.
In past times, young women wore spotted knapweed flowers to attract bachelors. However, mowing at the late bud to early bloom stage will reduce seed production. This plant may be known by one or more common names in. This is a great reference book, well organized and well written.
I read this book as an assignment in a class i am taking at jccc called natural history of kansas. Minutus prefers diffuse knapweed while obtusus prefers spotted knapweed. Spotted knapweed is a native of central europe and has also been called bachelors button. Purple streaks of thistles garnish the sodden fields. Centaurea diffusa wikibooks, open books for an open world.
A biennial is a plant that completes its life cycle within two years. What i found in reading this book was that in the first section, there was some good information, but in the following chapters there really wasnt anything of value. However both species of weevils feed readily on both species of knapweed. What you need to know about the knapweed root weevil. Spotted knapweed is native to central, eastern and. Government people like the bugs ability to destroy as much as 99% of a knapweed infestation. Centaurea montana perennial cornflower, mountain cornflower, bachelors button, montane knapweed or mountain bluet is a species of centaurea endemic to europe. Integrating species distributional, conservation planning, and individual based population models.
Knapweed note natural resource ecology and management. A weed report from the book weed control in natural areas in the. Agapeta zoegana, or the sulfur knapweed moth, is a biological control agent that attacks knapweed plants by tunneling into the cortex of the root. This book was published by fhtet as part of the technology transfer series. Spotted knapweed, a classb nondesignate noxious weed in lincoln county, washington centaurea biebersteinii is of the asteraceae family. A case study in critical habitat evaluation for the northern spotted owl. The story of margaret of anjou by susan higginbotham, figures in silk by vanora. Spotted knapweed ranks as the number one weed problem on rangeland in montana and is reported to occur in all but 5 states. Prolonged continuous consumption of either plant is necessary to produce this irreversible and ultimately fatal poisoning.
Okay so this book gave some good information, but if you are looking for a book that will teach you about medicinal plants, this is not the book you want to be reading. Centaurea biebersteinii, centaurea maculosa misapplied name, centaurea stoebe ssp. Yellow star thistle and russian knapweed cause a unique syndrome in horses characterized by the inability to prehend and chew food because of hypertonicity of the facial muscles. It is susceptible to herbicide treatments, but control efforts must persist for the longterm. It tends to grow to a height of 3 foot and has a single tap root that can go as deep as 18 inches.
Squarrose knapweed can be confused with other knapweed species, especially diffuse knapweed. They have been found to reduce seed production by 50%. If so we are sure you would find our books wonderful wildflowers of wales. Bugs have been imported that are the natural enemies of the plant, they eat it. It is widespread and common in the more southerly mountain ranges of europe, but is rarer in the north. After several hours of computer and book research, my plant clinic partner and i found a match. Yellow starthistle is another less robust annual type. This week in history in these videos, find out what happened this week or any week. Spotted and diffuse knapweed were first introduced to the united states in contaminated alfalfa medicago sativa l. One common name for this plant is hardheads and thanks to picturewinged fly larvae some heads are harder than. Knapweed removal information how to get rid of knapweed.
University of nebraskalincoln extension ec173 revised. In the western united states, yellow starthistles are an invasive species. Spotted knapweed and diffuse knapweed are both shortlived perennials that sometimes behave like annuals. A weed report from the book weed control in natural areas in the western united states spotted knapweed. Spotted knapweed is a bushy biennial to shortlived perennial, to 3 ft tall, with a long. Members of the genus are found only north of the equator, mostly in the eastern hemisphere. Russian knapweed is the most difficult to handle, since this perennial knapweed digs in for the long haul it can set roots as deep as 20 feet below the surface of the soil. The genus derives its name from a species, which, according to mythology, was used to cure the foot of a greek centaur called chiron. The tightly packed, thistlelike purple flower heads of common knapweed bloom on all kinds of grasslands. At this point, they will tunnel through the root to the surface where they will feed on the leaves of knapweed plants. Ridenour grew spotted knapweed together with idaho fescue, a native bunch grass, in a clear pot filled with sand, enabling her to measure the growth of the plants roots.
The book is a manifesto by richard manning that chronicles the demise of the grasslands that once covered much of the central usa. Centaurea americana american starthistle centaurea aspera. Its a great guide and also enjoyable to have around to browse through. Spotted knapweed s arrival in north america is estimated in the early 1890s. The raggededged, purple flower heads of greater knapweed bloom on sunny chalk grasslands and clifftops, and along woodland rides. Meadow knapweed outcompetes grasses and other pasture species, reducing grass productivity for forage though sheep find it quite edible. The doctor at the u of w said that there is a compound in knapweed that is cancer causing, this compound was isolated in russian knapweed and probably occurs in spotted and diffuse knapweed also. Seen on the left is a sixspot burnet zygaena filipendulae which, in central and southern britain in particular, is a common sight on the flowers of common knapweed centaurea nigra and other members of the centaurea genus. A hairy perennial with stiff erect ribbed stems, common knapweed grows up to a. It has been two and a half years since my last surgery and no. At this point, they will tunnel through the root to the surface where. Knapweed root weevils are a bug that voraciously eats knapweed.
Best nonfiction books about plants, animals and nature. The knapweed genus includes four useful garden perennials centaurea dealbata, centaurea hypoleuca, centaurea macrocephala, and centaurea montana all resembling the popular annual bachelors buttons. The strategy spotted knapweed centaurea stoebe maculosa ssp. As the name suggests, the larvae produced burrow into the root where they metamorphose into adult form. Shallow cultivation is not effective but deep plowing 18 cm followed by vigorous establishment of grasses can reduce the infestation.
It is native to southwestern europe and northern africa. Close mowing at the bud or flowering stage can reduce infestation june to october but flowering stems may regrow. Meadow knapweed s tough perennial root system makes manual control methods very difficult. Affordable and search from millions of royalty free images, photos and vectors. My first choice for a tree and shrub guide is dirrs hardy trees and shrubs, but since it is out of my price range i believe that william cullinas book is by far the next best book on this subject. Best nonfiction books about plants, animals and nature what are the most wellwritten compelling, educational, and interesting books about animals, plants, nature, and ecology. Spotted knapweed approved biological control agents. All three species are strong competitors and can form dense colonies in disturbed or overgrazed lands, but diffuse and spotted knapweed will also invade undisturbed natural habitats.
Spotted knapweed is driving out native plants and destroying rangeland. The plants database includes the following 37 species of centaurea. Centaurea is a genus of between 350 and 600 species of herbaceous thistlelike flowering. Larval feeding in the seedhead destroys the knapweed seed before it matures. Diffuse knapweed survives in a wide range of soil and environmental conditions, and produces large numbers of viable. Squarrose knapweed can be distinguished from diffuse knapweed by the bracts underneath the flower. During that time there were countless occasions when i would see coyotes, deer, elk, and moose nibbling on the bitter blossoms of knapweed, or chewing the seed tops of cow parsnipa native member of the parsley family that early settlers and native americans used to alieviate gastric bloating and cramping. Spotted knapweed control efforts worry beekeepers spotted knapweed. Im not talking about field guides and encyclopedias, but the essays that really draw you in. Knapweed article about knapweed by the free dictionary. Knapweed root weevils lay approximately 50 to 70 eggs on either diffuse or spotted knapweed. Knapweed is a eurasian plant introduced to america circa 1893. Flower heads are made up of 40 to 100 purple or rarely white ray flowers.
Weeds find a way jensonelliott, cindy, fisher, carolyn on. The earliest collection of spotted knapweed is from victoria, british columbia in 1893. You dont tend to see many species of knapweed grown, yet the genus is large and there are some very good cultivars. The specimen in question was a knapweed root weevil cyphocleonus achates. Purple streaks of thistles garnish the sodden fields wenlock edge rain hardens summers lushness and the vivid knapweed seems loaded with the uncanniness of the season paul evans. Demystified videos in demystified, britannica has all the answers to your burning questions. Its not clear why michigan beekeepers are so worried about knapweed control. Diffuse knapweed is a nonnative biennial forb that reproduces solely by seed. Jim story, an entomologist at montana state university, has gone to central and.
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