knapweed, Spotted, Centaurea maculosa
Weed Control Options 
Life Cycle
Biennial or short-lived perennial.Propagation
Reproduces by seed.Stems
Stems erect, much-branched, 20-180cm high, greenish or purplish striped.Leaves
Leaves in a basal rosette the first year, compound (pinnately divided) with several simple (not lobed) or irregularly lobed leaflets widely spaced along each side, the margins of each leaflet smooth or toothed; basal leaves long-stalked, with scattered, tiny, round, shining glands embedded in both upper and lower surfaces and a few translucent dots through the blade; lower and middle stem leaves similar to those of the rosette but smaller with shorter stalks, alternate (1 per node); upper leaves small, narrow, stalkless, simple or with a few small lobes.Flowers and Fruit
Flower heads small, erect on slender stiff branches, hard; ray florets absent; flower heads consisting only of many rosy, purplish disk florets; the corolla of each floret ending in 5 long slender lobes; the outer florets longer than the central ones; the head surrounded by an involucre of small, somewhat dry and membranous bracts, each bract ovate with a distinct brownish-black tip ending in a fine fringe like the teeth of a comb. Flowers from July to September.Habitat
Spotted knapweed occurs throughout Ontario and is most common in the southern part of the province.Distinguishing Features
It is distinguished by its pinnately divided rosette and lower stem leaves, the leaves slightly woolly, with tiny shining glands in both surfaces visible to the naked eye as shiny specks and with a few translucent dots visible as pinpricks through the leaf blade when viewed against the light, and by its showy rosy-purple flower heads surrounded by involucral bracts with dry and membranous, fringed brownish-black tips.Noxious Weed Status
All knapweed species are considered noxious in Ontario and must be controlled if negatively affecting agricultural or horticultural land as outlined by the Weed Control Act R.S.O. 1990 Chapter W.5.Media Items
Figure 1: Spotted knapweed A. Base of plant. B. Stem with flower heads. C. 1 involucral bract. Top
Figure 2: Knapweed covering hilltop before bloom. Top
Figure 3: Flower head of spotted knapweed with distinct involucral bracts . Top
Figure 4: Spotted knapweed along roadside. Top
Figure 5: Flower of spotted knapweed. Top
Figure 6: Purple flower of spotted knapweed growing in Central Ontario in late August. Top
Figure 7: Stem of Spotted knapweed. Top
Figure 8: Leaves of spotted knapweed. Top
Figure 9: Spotted knapweed growing along fence in Central Ontario in July. Top