Basketflower

Basketflower, American Starthistle

Centaurea americana Nutt.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ seedling

▲ wild population in flower in Oklahoma

▲ ▼ flower buds, showing the "basket" like arrangement of the toothed bracts on the base of the inflorescence

▲ ▼ flowering plants

▲ ▼ base of inflorescence remains after flowering, and sometimes becomes hollow after fruit/seed leave

Centaurea americana Nutt., American Star-Thistle, Basketflower: (Bayer Code: not known; US Code CEAM2)

Native annual wildflower that grows 1-4 feet tall, with alternate, lanceolate leaves
Stems are ridge and leaves are covered with fine hairs
Inflorescences are at stem tips on elongated stalks, and are 1-3 inches across, usually pinkish-purple, with whiter coloring toward the center of the head
The bracts below the inflorescence are branched, straw-colored, and overlapping, so that they give the appearance of forming a basket below the flower
Found in prairies, rangeland, full sun to part shade, fertile, drier soil
Not usually weedy, but related to some non-native, very weedy species

(Posted January 19, 2019)