Centaurea calcitrapa

Centaurea calcitrapa is a species of flowering plant known by several common names, including red star-thistle[1] and purple starthistle. It is native to Europe but is rarely found there, it is known across the globe as an introduced species and often a noxious weed.[2][3] The species name calcitrapa comes from the word caltrop, a type of weapon covered in sharp spikes.[4][5]

Centaurea calcitrapa
Young plant
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Tribe:
Cynareae
Genus:
Centaurea
Species:
C. calcitrapa
Binomial name
Centaurea calcitrapa

In western Crete, Greece a local variety called gourounaki (γουρουνάκι - little pig) has its leaves eaten boiled by the locals.[6] A south Italian variety of the species is also traditionally consumed by ethnic Albanians (Arbëreshë people) in the Vulture area (southern Italy). In the Arbëreshë communities in Lucania the young whorls of Centaurea calcitrapa are boiled and fried in mixtures with other weedy non cultivated greens. According to a research by A. Pieroni, V. Janiak, C. M. Dürr, S. Lüdeke, E. Trachsel and M. Heinrich (2002) in the Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy (The School of Pharmacy, University of London) "the antioxidant activity of the young whorls of Centaurea calcitrapa, both in the DPPH and in the lipid peroxidation inhibition assays, are very interesting and the species should be investigated phytochemically and biochemically focusing on these properties". Extracts from Centaurea calcitrapa found to have significant xanthine oxidase (XO)-inhibiting activity and showed significant antioxidant activity too.[7]

Description

This an annual or Biennial plant growing erect to a maximum height of one[8] to 1.3[4] metres.

The stems are hairless and grooved.[9]

It sometimes takes the shape of a mound, and it is finely to densely hairy to spiny. The leaves are dotted with resin glands. The lowermost may reach a length of 20 centimeters and are deeply cut into lobes. The inflorescence contains a few flower heads. Each is 1.5 to 2 centimeters long and oval in general shape. The phyllaries are green or straw-colored and tipped in tough, sharp yellow spines. The head contains many bright purple flowers. The fruit is an achene a few millimeters long which lacks a pappus.

It flowers from July until September, and the seeds ripen from August to October.

The Red Star-thistle has been identified as a Priority Species by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It is identified as 'vulnerable' by the UNIC and is listed as Nationally Rare in the UK Red Data Book. There is no national or Sussex BAP for this species.

Distribution

Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq. Circum-Mediterranean, southern and central Europe. and a small amount in Brighton UK

Similar species
  • Centaurea aspera, known as rough star-thistle. The main difference is the bract appendages are palmately arranged.
  • Centaurea solstitialis, known as yellow star thistle. Differs in having yellow flowers palmately arranged, spiny bract appendages, with middle spine only 1 to 2 cm.

References
  1. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. "Centaurea calcitrapa". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  3. "Centaurea genus part 1". California Department of Food and Agriculture. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  4. "University of California Cooperative Extension". Ucce.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  5. Pitcairn, Michael J.; Young, James A.; Clements, Charlie D.; Balciunas, JOE (2002). "Purple Starthistle (Centaurea calcitrapa) Seed Germination1". Weed Technology. 16 (2): 452. doi:10.1614/0890-037X(2002)016[0452:PSCCSG]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0890-037X.
  6. Kleonikos G. Stavridakis, Κλεόνικος Γ. Σταυριδάκης (2006). Wild edible plants of Crete - Η Άγρια βρώσιμη χλωρίδα της Κρήτης. Rethymnon Crete. ISBN 960-631-179-1.
  7. A. Pieroni, V. Janiak, C. M. Dürr, S. Lüdeke, E. Trachsel and M. Heinrich: In vitro Antioxidant Activity of Non-cultivated Vegetables of Ethnic Albanians in Southern Italy, Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School of Pharmacy, University of London 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK; PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, 16, 467–473 (2002) Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Jepson Manual Treatment". Ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  9. Rose, Francis (1981). The Wild Flower Key. Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 386–387. ISBN 0-7232-2419-6.
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