Centaurea melitensis

Maltese Cockspur, Cockspur Thistle at Calwell, ACT

Centaurea melitensis at Calwell, ACT - 23 Nov 2015
Centaurea melitensis at Calwell, ACT - 23 Nov 2015
Centaurea melitensis at Calwell, ACT - 23 Nov 2015
Centaurea melitensis at Calwell, ACT - 23 Nov 2015
Centaurea melitensis at Calwell, ACT - 23 Nov 2015
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Identification history

Centaurea melitensis 8 Dec 2017 MichaelMulvaney
Centaurea solstitialis 7 Dec 2017 BettyDonWood
Centaurea melitensis 25 Jan 2016 michaelb
Unidentified 25 Jan 2016 michaelb

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Significant sighting

michaelb noted:
27 Jan 2016

According to records held within the Atlas of Living Australia, which includes all herbarium records, this plant has not been recorded in the ACT since 1956, 60 years ago. Michael Mulvaney suspects it is one that climate change may favour in the ACT given that it is pretty common on the south-west slopes. He thinks it is worth raising awareness of it, since it is similar to the Saffron Thistle and might be overlooked.

User's notes

On the north-east slopes of Tuggeranong Hill.

6 comments

BettyDonWood wrote:
   25 Jan 2016
I must admit I was too quick off the mark. The flower is OK but not the leaves. I will have another look at it. Another undo went wrong.
Mike wrote:
   25 Jan 2016
Looks like Centaurea melitensis.
michaelb wrote:
   26 Jan 2016
Thanks Mike, I've suggested same.
Mike wrote:
   26 Jan 2016
Centaurea melitensis has not been recorded in the ACT since 1956 so I think the Herbarium would be pleased to get a specimen.
BettyDonWood wrote:
   7 Dec 2017
The spines are far too long and robust to be melitensis, which has fine spines under 5 mm long.
Mike wrote:
   8 Dec 2017
A search on C. melitensis photos shows plants with identical spines. I will have to take a look at my specimen of C. solstitialis for comparison.

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 4 - 15 Abundance
  • 23 Nov 2015 08:06 PM Recorded on
  • michaelb Recorded by

Species information

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