Centaurea melitensis L.                   Centromadia parryi   Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)   Europe   Tocalote    Star Thistle    Southern Tar Plant

                                           May Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual, 3-8 dm. high, erect, commonly much-branched, grayish-pubescent, the stems winged by the decurrent lvs.; lvs. resin-dotted, +/- scabrous; lower lvs. lyrate, 5-12 cm. long, with obtuse lobes; upper lvs. narrow, entire; heads solitary or 2 or 3 together; invol. ovoid, ca. 1 cm. high, arachnoid, the phyllaries rigid, the outer with palmatifid, spining, the inner and middle with a rigid spine 4-8 mm. long; corollas 10-12 mm. +/- equal, yellow, sterile corollas slender; aks. ca. 2.5 mm. long, grayish, with pappus-bristles in ca. 3 rows.

Habitat:  Common weed in grain fields, pasture, along roadsides, etc., much of Calif. including in the Ids.  May-June.

Name:  Centaurea is based on the ancient Greek name for Centaur (cankerous), a mythical creature, half man and half horse.  Centaury was a plant in Greece with medicinal properties that were said to have been discovered by the Centaur, Chiron.  The species name melitensis, means from Malta.  (Dale 56).

General:  Very common in the study area.  Specimens were photographed on the Castaway's Bluffs, the North Star Flats, 23rd Street and on the west side of the Delhi Ditch. (my comments).     The popular name Star Thistle was given because the spiny heads suggested a medieval weapon-a metal ball on a long handle set with spikes called a "morning star".  (Dale 56).    C. benedicta has a very great power in the purification and circulation of the blood.  It is such a good blood purifier that a cup of the tea twice a day will cure chronic headaches.  (Kloss 247).       About 500 species, mostly of Old World, many cultivated for the flowers.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 134).

Text Ref:  Collins 155; Hickman, Ed. 222; Munz, Calif. Flora 1283; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 135; Roberts 9.

Photo Ref:  May 4 83 # 12; May 5 83 # 21; Sept 2 83 # 15; May 2 88 # 25.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by G. Marsh.  

First Found:  May 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 154.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 7/14/05.  

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