Centaurea diffusa Lam.; Acosta diffusa (Lam.) Sojak

Keys to Identification

• When leaves are young, they are covered by fine hairs.
• Flowers are mostly white or purple, and are located on each branch tip.
• The bracts surrounding each flower bear 4 to 5 pairs of lateral spines and one, long terminal spine. Diffuse knapweed can resemble spotted knapweed with the black tipped bracts. The difference is the sharp spine at the end of the bract that is characteristic of diffuse knapweed.

Family

Sunflower (Asteraceae )

Other Names

Spreading knapweed, tumble knapweed

USDA Code

CEDI3

Legal Status

Colorado Noxious Weed List B

Identification

Lifecycle

Biennial or short-lived perennial

Growth form

Forb

Flower

Flowerheads are broadly urn-shaped, 0.6-0.8 in tall, solitary or in clusters of 2-3 at the ends of the branches. Floral bracts are yellowish with a brownish margin, sometimes spotted, fringed on the sides, and terminating in a slender bristle or spine. The heads contain two types of flowers, ray flowers around the edges surrounding tubular disk flowers. The ray flowers are white, rose-purple, to lavender. June-Aug.

Seeds/Fruit

Seeds are light brown to black.

Leaves

Basal leaves are stalked and divided into narrow, hairy segments. Stem leaves are smaller, alternate, less divided, stalkless, and become bract-like near the flower clusters.

Stems

Stems are upright, 4-24 in tall, highly branched, angled, with short, stiff hairs on the angles.

Roots

Taproot.

Seedling

Seedlings have finely divided leaves that are covered with short hair.

Similar Species

Exotics

Diffuse knapweed may be distinguished from other knapweeds by the terminal spine on the floral bract.

Natives

None.

Impacts

Agricultural

Diffuse knapweed reduces the productivity of rangeland by displacing desirable forage species.

Ecological

Diffuse knapweed is a pioneer species that can quickly invade disturbed and undisturbed grassland, shrubland, and riparian communities. Once established, diffuse knapweed outcompetes and reduces the quantity of desirable native species such as perennial grasses. Diffuse knapweed contains allelopathic chemicals, which can suppress competitive plant growth and create single species stands (Watson and Renney 1974). The densities of these stands can range from 1-500 plants/m2. The replacement of native grassland with diffuse knapweed can reduce biological activity and increase soil erosion (Sheley et al. 1997).

Human

Some people develop a rash when handling the plants.

Habitat and Distribution

General requirements

Diffuse knapweed is found on plains, rangelands, and forested benchlands. It is generally found on light, dry, porous soils. Diffuse knapweed has been observed in elevations up to 7,000 feet (Zimmerman 1997). It prefers open habitats to shaded areas (Watson and Renney 1974). Diffuse knapweed is not common on cultivated lands or irrigated pasture because it cannot tolerate cultivation or excessive moisture (Watson and Renney 1974).

Distribution

Diffuse knapweed is now common in the Front Range counties, and has been reported in scattered infestations from both the east and west slope of Colorado.

Historical

Native to Eurasia.

Biology/Ecology

Lifecycle

Diffuse knapweed plants first form low rosettes and may remain in this form for one to several years depending on environmental conditions. Diffuse knapweed plants that complete their juvenile growth by the fall overwinter as rosettes and bolt in early spring (Watson and Renney 1974). Diffuse knapweed plants that have not finished the juvenile stage by the end of fall remain as rosettes through the second year and bolt during the third year. Flower buds are formed in early June and flowering occurs in July and August (Watson and Renney 1974). Mature seeds are formed by mid-August (Watson and Renney 1974).

Mode of reproduction

Reproduces by seeds.

Seed production

A single diffuse knapweed plant can produce up to 18,000 seeds (Harris and Cranston 1979) and a stand of diffuse knapweed can produce up to 40,000 seeds per square meter (Watson and Renney 1974).

Seed bank

Seeds may remain dormant for several years.

Dispersal

Seed dispersal for diffuse knapweed is mainly by wind (Watson and Renney 1974). When the seed capsule sways in the breeze or is disturbed, the seeds fall from the small opening in top of the flower head and are distributed around the parent plant (Watson and Renney 1974). However, most of the involucres remain closed until the plant dries up, breaks off at ground level and effectively becomes a tumbleweed, allowing seeds to be individually dispersed over long distances (Zimmerman 1997). Diffuse knapweed stalks readily lodge under vehicles, expanding their long distance dispersal.

References

Beck, G. K. 1997. Natural resources series, diffuse knapweed. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Internet 05/05/98. Available: http://ozma.jefferson.co.us/dpt/openspac/weed/dfknapwd.htm

Fletcher, R.A., and A.J. Renney. 1963. A growth inhibitor found in Centaurea spp. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 43:475-481.

Harris, P., and R. Cranston. 1979. An economic evaluation of control methods for diffuse and spotted knapweed in western Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 59:375-382.

Niefoff, J. E-mail message-broadcast. Sent 9-12-97, 9:29 AM.

Roché, B.E. and C.T. Roché. 1999. Diffuse knapweed. In: R.L. Sheley and J.K. Petroff (eds.) Biology and management of noxious rangeland weeds. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, pg. 217-230.

Schirman, R. 1981. Seed production and spring seedling establishment of diffuse and spotted knapweed. Journal of Range Management 34:45-47.

Sheley, R.L., B.E. Olson, and L.L. Larson. 1997. Effect of weed seed rate and grass defoliation level on diffuse knapweed. Journal of Range Management 50: 39-43.

Watson, A.K., and A.J. Renney. 1974. The biology of Canadian weeds Centaurea diffusa and C. maculosa. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 54:687-701.

Youtie, B. 1997. Weed control as the first step in protecting and restoring native plant communities on northeast Oregon natural areas. Conservation and Management of Native Plants and Fungi. Native Plant Society of Oregon, Corvallis, Oregon. pages 78-82.

Youtie, B. and J. Soll. 1994. Non-chemical control of diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa). Knapweed Newsletter 8(3):2-3. Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Pullman WA.

Zimmerman, J.A.C. 1997. Ecology and distribution of Centaurea diffusa Lam., Asteraceae. USGS Biological Resources Division , Colorado Plateau Field Station-Flagstaff, Arizona. Internet 02/16/98. Available: http://www.nbs.nau.edu/FNF/Vegetation/Exotics/diffusa/ diffusa.html