Centaurea melitensis at Wandiyali-Environa Conservation Area

Maltese Cockspur, Cockspur Thistle at Wandiyali-Environa Conservation Area

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Identification history

Centaurea melitensis	8 Dec 2017	MichaelMulvaney
Centaurea solstitialis	7 Dec 2017	BettyDonWood
Centaurea melitensis	7 Dec 2017	Wandiyali

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5 comments

BettyDonWood wrote:

7 Dec 2017

Melitensis has fine spines under 5 mm long. Solstitialis has robust spines 5-15 mm long.

Wandiyali wrote:

8 Dec 2017

Thanks Betty, I'll be going back down to hand weed them tomorrow.

BettyDonWood wrote:

8 Dec 2017

Could you either press them between sheets of newspaper (about a dozen on each side) with a weight on them, or put them in a plastic bage in the fridge in case someone else wants them as a specimen, please. If they are Centaurea melitensis rather than solstitialis, they might have to go to the herbarium. Thanks. Betty
Here is the link to NSW Weedwise for solstitialis. http://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/Details/134
It is not a Pest Plant in the ACT.

Wandiyali wrote:

8 Dec 2017

Thanks Betty, I have collected and pressed some specimens.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

9 Dec 2017

The dark green rather than grey colour of the leaves and the reddish brown main spine on the flower head are characteristic of Maltese Cockspur

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