Yellow Star-thistle
Centaurea solstitialis
Asteraceae

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Centaurea - refers to Centaur Chiron
who discovered the medicinal uses of the plant
that came to be known as Centaury

solstitialis - pertaining to midsummer (solstice)

Non-native; invasive, especially in farming and ranch lands. For this ranch, it's a yearly battle to eradicate the thistle. Location: Bealville Road (connects from Hwy 58 to Caliente-Bodfish Road), Southern Kern River Valley. The California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) lists plants that cause serious problems in native ecosystems. Cal-IPC classifies the statewide impact of Centaurea solstitialis as high.