RUSSIAN KNAPWEED

(Centaurea repens L.)

GROWTH HABIT: perennial herb, up to 3 ft. tall, erect, may be in dense clumps. Grayish color.

LEAVES: Alternate, simple, of several types:
Upper leaves - small, narrow, unbroken edge;
Stem leaves -intermediate in size, slight toothed margins; Basal leaves – deeply notched.

STEMS: Numerous branches, each ending with a single flower.

FLOWER: Single, terminal, lavender, thistle like, scaly seed head.

ROOTS: Dark brown to black and heavily scaled.

SEEDS: Flattened, ivory colored, retained in cup-shaped seed heads.

OTHER: Leaves and stems covered with short stiff hairs giving plant an appearance of knap. Spreads by seeds and creeping rootstocks.