purple star thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• purple star-thistle
• red star-thistle
• Star-Thistle
• purple cockspur
• purple star thistle
• red star thistle
• saucy-bob
• star thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhaponticum calcitrapa
• Calcitrapa vulgaris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic placement identifies it under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and falls under the genus Centaurea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a notable presence across several regions of Northern Europe, including Great Britain and Ireland. It can also be found growing within the landscapes of Norway. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is documented to inhabit parts of Austria. Furthermore, its distribution extends into Belgium, completing its range across these diverse European territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Centaurea calcitrapa is characterized by its ability to inhabit a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 1800 m AMSL. It is primarily found in lowland habitats, where it has established its niche within the local landscape. In terms of biological interactions and survival strategies, the species possesses active defense mechanisms to protect itself from environmental stressors or herbivory. Furthermore, its nutritional strategy is distinct in that it does not form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizae, relying instead on other methods for nutrient acquisition within its ecosystem.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Centaurea calcitrapa is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, transitioning through different developmental stages over its existence. As a plant that undergoes seasonal changes, it exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its survival strategy. Its structural growth is defined by two distinct life forms depending on its environmental interaction and developmental stage: it functions as a hemicryptophyte, where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, and it also displays characteristics of a therophyte, completing its biological objectives through a seasonal life cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Centaurea calcitrapa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial species exhibits a self-supporting, erect shoot orientation and does not function as a climber or an epiphyte. It is an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1 m, averaging approximately 0.425 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.425 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Centaurea calcitrapa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a reliance on the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, obtaining its essential nutrients through soil uptake. Its leaf morphology is primarily linear, with dimensions ranging from a minimum width of 1 cm to a maximum width of 9 cm, and a maximum length reaching 25 cm. On average, the leaf size is approximately 16.69 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 228.2 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its metabolic efficiency in resource acquisition.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf size mean:

16.69 cm²

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

228.2 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Centaurea calcitrapa is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that typically begins in April and concludes in September. The plant produces violet-colored flowers that range in length from 1.5 cm to 2 cm. These flowers utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While self-fertilization is present, the plant's reproductive strategy is primarily driven by these insect interactions. Following fertilization, the plant develops brown fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are indehiscent and measure between 0.25 cm and 0.3 cm in length. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a consistent mean mass of approximately 0.0023 g. As a monocarp, the plant follows a single reproductive cycle, and it lacks asexual reproduction mechanisms. Once the seeds are mature, they are distributed via an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, lacking highly specific evolutionary adaptations for transport.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.25 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0023 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0023015 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Centaurea calcitrapa has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Arachidic acid, Astragalin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Behenic acid, Centaurin.

Arachidic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Behenic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Centaurin

1. Dr. Duke

Cichoriin

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

INULIN

1. Dr. Duke

Kaempferide

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Centaurea calcitrapa has 337 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alcohol-Dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Centaurea calcitrapa has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include AntiDiabetic, antitussive, astringent, purgative.

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitussive

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Astringent

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Purgative

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Centaurea calcitrapa has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethyl acetate extract.

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)