Centaurea melitensis

Maltese Cockspur, Cockspur Thistle at Googong, NSW

Centaurea melitensis at Googong, NSW - 8 Dec 2017
Centaurea melitensis at Googong, NSW - 8 Dec 2017
Centaurea melitensis at Googong, NSW - 8 Dec 2017
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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.
   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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Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • True In flower
  • 10cm to 30cm Plant height

Species information

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