# Flora of New York/Carduoideae

| ← Aquifoliaceae, Campanulaceae, Menyanthaceae | Flora of New York — Asterales : Asteraceae : Carduoideae : Cardueae | Flora of New York — Asterales : Asteraceae : Carduoideae : Cardueae | Flora of New York — Asterales : Asteraceae : Carduoideae : Cardueae | Flora of New York — Asterales : Asteraceae : Carduoideae : Cardueae | → Cichorioideae |
| ← Aquifoliaceae, Campanulaceae, Menyanthaceae | Table of contents | Genus index | Protected species index | Invasive species index | → Cichorioideae |
* Centaurea

# Family Asteraceae

The Asteraceae (or Compositae)

## Subfamily Carduoideae
### Tribe Cardueae

* The Cardueae (syn. Cynareae) is a mostly non-native tribe of Asteraceae. It contains various thistles and knapweeds, many of which are considered highly invasive in the region.

#### Subtribe Carlininae
##### Carlina

* Carlina vulgaris, Carline thistle Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) establishes on exposed soil but does not compete with taller dense vegetation.
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Carlininae — Carlina :
| Genus Carlina | Carline-thistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Carlina vulgaris ssp. vulgaris1753. Carlina vulgaris  L. in… 1782. Carlina caulescens  Gilib. in… 1824. Carlina longifolia  Viv. in… 1829. Carlina vulgaris  var. uniflora  Gaudin  in… 1907. Carlina flavispina  Simonk. in… | Carline thistle ⓘ | Introduced from  Europe to Iran, Naturalized | | NYFA: X NYFA: 5 counties iNat 6 counties | USDA-X0 POWO BONAP Images Wikispecies |

#### Subtribe Echinopsinae
##### Echinops

* Echinops sphaerocephalus
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Echinopsinae :
| Genus Echinops | Globethistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Echinops sphaerocephalus L. ssp. sphaerocephalus1753. Echinops sphaerocephalus  L. in… 1771. Echinopus sphaerocephalus  (L.) Scop. in… 1796. Echinops maximus  Siev. in… 1838. Echinops giganteus  DC. in… 1889. Echinops major  St.-Lag. in… 1891. Sphaerocephalus multiflorus  Kuntze in… | Glandular globe-thistle ⓘ Great globe thistle ⓘ | Introduced from  Eurasia, Naturalized, Cultivated, SNA Perennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: X NYFA: 11 counties iNat GBIF 2 counties | USDA-XX POWO Images Wikispecies |

#### Subtribe Carduinae
##### Onopordum

* Onopordum acanthium
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Carduinae — Onopordum :
| Genus Onopordum | Cottonthistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Onopordum acanthium L. ssp. acanthium1753. Onopordum acanthium  L. in… 1771. Acanos spina  Scop. in… 1791. Acanthium onopordon  Gueldenst. in… 1796. Onopordum tomentosum  Salisb. in… 1891. Onopordum acanthium  var. polycephalum  Willk.  in… 1896. Onopordum acanthium  var. schultesii  (Brittinger ex W.D.J.Koch) Rouy in… | Scotch thistle, Scotch cottonthistle | Introduced, Potentially invasive,  iMapInvasives,  Invasive.org: , Naturalized, SNA Biennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: X NYFA: 13 counties ? counties | USDA-XM POWO Go Botany Images Wikispecies |

##### Arctium

* Arctium lappa, greater burdock Only the two burdock species Arctium lappa (greater burdock) and A. minus (lesser burdock) are currently listed as naturalized in New York. Specimens of A. minus were apparently misidentified as A. tomentosum in the past.
* Arctium is an Old World genus whose biennial plants have been introduced around the world, perhaps in part due to Velcro-like burrs that promote wide seed dispersal.
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Carduinae — Arctium :
| Genus Arctium | Burdock | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Arctium lappa L. ssp. lappa1753. Arctium lappa  L. in… 1762. Lappa vulgaris Hill 1785. Lappa officinalis All. 1791. Lappa major Gaertn. 1800. Arctium majus Bernh. 1833. Arctium nemorosum Lej. & Court. 1883. Lappa lappa (L.) H.Karst. (i) 1913. Arctium vulgare (Hill) A.H.Evans 1928. Arctium edule Beger | Greater burdock, Great burdock, Edible burdock, Beggar's-buttonsGrande bardane, Bardane majeure, Rhubarbe sauvage, Graquias, Toques, Rapace | Introduced from  Eurasia | | NYFA: X NYFA: ? counties ? counties | USDA-XX Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh.1762. Lappa minor Hill 1800. Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. 1856. Arctium pubens Bab. | Lesser burdock, Common burdock, Cuckoo-buttonPetite bardane, Bardane mineure, Bardane, Tabac du diable, Tapace, Chou bourache, Cibourroche, Graquias | Introduced from  Eurasia,  northern Africa | | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Genus Arctium (excluded taxa) | Burdock | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Arctium tomentosum Mill.1768. Arctium tomentosum Mill. | Woolly burdock, Hairy burdockBardane tomenteuse | Introduced from  Eurasia, N.Y. excluded | | NYFA-Excluded | USDA-XX Go Botany ARS-GRIN FNA BONAP Images Wikispecies |

##### Silybum

Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Carduinae — Silybum :
| Genus Silybum | Milk thistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.1753. Carduus marianus L. 1768. Mariana mariana (L.) Hill in… 1791. Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. | Milk-thistle, Blessed milkthistle, St. Mary's thistle | Introduced from  Eurasia,  northern Africa, Highly invasive, NYS Tier 5 Biennial, Herb-forb | | 6 counties NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany ARS-GRIN Images Wikispecies |
| ↑ New York State Invasive Species Tiers: Silybum marianum (Blessed milkthistle) NYS Tier 5. 2021 New York Natural Heritage Program ||||||

##### Cirsium

* Cirsium species are known as plume thistles due to the feathered hairs on their achenes.

###### New-World Cirsium

* Cirsium muticum Swamp thistleThe North American thistles found in New York are here divided into two groups (species complexes) that are known to freely hybridize within the individual group.
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Carduinae — Cirsium :
| Genus Cirsium Mill. (1745) (North American - HG1) | Thistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Cirsium muticum Michx.1803. Cirsium muticum Michx. 1807. Carduus muticus (Michx.) Pers. 1814. Cnicus muticus (Michx.) Pursh 1838. Cirsium bigelovii DC. | Swamp thistle, Dunce-nettle, HorsetopsChardon mutique, Circe mutique | Native, CoC: 9, Secure, S5, G5 OBL Biennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: 5 | USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN ITIS FNA Tropicos BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Cirsium discolor (Muhl. ex Willd.) Spreng.1803. Cnicus discolor Muhl. ex Willd. 1818. Carduus discolor in… 1826. Cirsium discolor in… 1894. Cirsium altissimum  f. discolor  (Muhl. ex Willd.) Voss 1902. Cirsium altissimum  var. discolor  (Muhl. ex Willd.) Fernald 1917. Cirsium altissimum  ssp. discolor  (Muhl. ex Willd.) Petr. | Field thistle, Pasture thistleChardon discolore, Circe discolore | Native, CoC: 1, Secure, S5 UPL Biennial-perennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: 5 | USDA-NN Go Botany VASCAN FNA Tropicos BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.1753. Carduus altissimus L. 1804. Cnicus altissimus Willd. 1826. Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng. 1826. Cirsium altissimum (L.) Hill 1908. Cirsium iowense in… 1917. Cirsium altissimum var. biltmoreanum Petr. | Tall thistle, Roadside thistle | Native, CoC: 10, Likely extirpated UPL Biennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: Z | USDA-N0 Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Cirsium flodmanii (Rydb.) Arthur 1900. Carduus flodmanii Rydb. 1903. Cirsium oblanceolatum in… 1912. Cirsium flodmanii (Rydb.) Arthur | Flodman's thistle, Prairie thistle | Introduced, Midwest native, Preglacial relict? FAC-FACU Perennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: X | USDA-NN Go Botany ARS-GRIN FNA BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Genus Cirsium Mill. (1745) (North American - HG2) | Thistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Cirsium pumilum (Nutt.) Spreng.ssp. pumilum1818. Carduus pumilus Nutt. 1826. Cirsium pumilum (Nutt.) Spreng. 1911. Cirsium odoratum in… | Pasture thistle, Fragrant thistle, Bull thistleChardon nain | Native, CoC: 1, Secure N. R. Biennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: 5 | USDA-N0 Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| Cirsium horridulum Michx.var. horridulum1803. Cirsium horridulum Michx. | Yellow thistle, Giant thistle, Bristly thistle, Horrid thistle, Bull thistle | Native, CoC: 5, Rare FACU Annual-biennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA: N | USDA-N0 Go Botany ARS-GRIN FNA BONAP Images Wikispecies |

###### Old-World Cirsium

* Cirsium vulgare bull thistleAll three of the Eurasian Cirsium (thistle) species are considered invasive in New York State.
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Carduinae — Cirsium :
| Genus Cirsium (Eurasian ) | Plume thistle | N.Y. Status | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.1753. Carduus lanceolatus L. 1798. Carduus vulgaris Savi 1835. Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. 1938. Ci. vulgare Airy Shaw (hom.) 1972. Ci. lanceolatum Scop. non Hill | Bull thistle, Common thistle, Spear thistle, Scotch thistleChardon vulgaire, Chardon lancéolé, Gros chardon, Circe commun, Circe vulgaire | Introduced from  Eurasia,  northern Africa, Widespread weed, NE-3, Invasive.org FACU Biennial, Hert-forb | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.1753. Serratula arvensis L. 1772. Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. 1777. Carduus arvensis (L.) E.Robson 1819. Cirsium incanum 1819. Cirsium setosum (Willd.) M.Bieb. | Creeping thistle, Canada thistle, Field thistleChardon des champs, Chardon du Canada, Circe des champs | Introduced from  Eurasia, Highly invasive, NYIS: 71%, Prohibited, CP-2 NE-2 FACU Perennial, Hert-forb | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Cirsium palustre (L.) Scop.1753. Carduus palustris L. 1772. Cirsium Palustre (L.) Scop. | Marsh thistle, Marsh plume thistle, European marsh thistle, European swamp thistleChardon des marais, Cirse des marais | Introduced from  Eurasia, Moderately invasive, NYIS: 68%, NE-2 FACW Perennial, Hert-forb | NYFA: X | USDA-XW Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| ↑ Category 3 Plants - widespread non-native species - Eastern Region invasive plants, ranked by degree of invasiveness as based on information from States (1998) US Forest Service ↑ New York non-native plant invasiveness assessment – Cirsium arvense: Highly invasive (71%). ↑ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regulation 6 NYCRR Part 575 Prohibited and Regulated Invasive Species ↑ Appendix 2. Plant species that are considered highly invasive to natural areas in the central Finger Lakes region. Policy on the use of non-native plants in Cornell Plantations' accessioned collections (2009) 1 2 Category 2 Plants - moderately invasive - Eastern Region invasive plants, ranked by degree of invasiveness as based on information from States (1998) US Forest Service ↑ New York non-native plant invasiveness assessment – Cirsium palustre: Moderately invaisve (68%). ||||||

##### Carduus

* Carduus acanthoides spiny plumeless thistleCarduus species are known as plumeless thistles.
Asterales — Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Carduinae — Carduus :
| Genus Carduus | Plumeless thistle | N.Y. Status | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Carduus acanthoidesssp. acanthoides | Spiny plumeless thistle | Introduced, Moderately invasive | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |
| Carduus nutans | Musk thistle, Nodding thistle, Nodding plumeless thistle | Introduced, Moderately invasive | NYFA: Xn | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |
| Carduus crispus | Curled plumless-thistle, Welted thistle, Curled thistle | Introduced | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |
| Carduus pycnocephalusssp. pycnocephalus | Italian thistle | Introduced, Unvouchered waif | NYFA: U | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |

##### Serratula

Asterales — Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Carduinae — Serratula :
| Genus Serratula (excluded) | Plumeless saw-wort | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NPT |
| Serratula tinctoria L.    Serratula tinctoria L. | Dyer's plumeless saw-wort, Saw-wort | Introduced, N.Y. excluded Perennial, Herb-forb | | NYFA-Excluded | USDA-X0 Go Botany-0 ITIS Images Wikispecies |

#### Subtribe Centaureinae

The Centaureinae contains knapweeds and starthistles, none of which are native to New York, and some of which are considered to be seriously invasive in the state.

##### Plectocephalus

Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Centaureinae — Plectocephalus :
| Genus Plectocephalus | Basketflower | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Plectocephalus americanus Nutt.1821. Centaurea americana Nutt. 1830. Plectocephalus americanus in… | American star-thistle, American basketflower, Powderpuff thistle, Thornless thistle | Introduced from  south-central US, N.Y. excluded | | NYFA-Excluded | USDA-N0 Go Botany-0 ARS-GRIN ITIS BONAP Images Wikispecies |
| ↑ Tree of Life: Centaureinae ||||||

##### Centaurea

* The subgeneric classification of Centaurea (knapweeds) used here is based on Hilpold et al. (2014).
* ↑ Hilpold, A., Garcia-Jacas, N., Vilatersana, R. & Susanna, A. 2014. "Taxonomical and nomenclatural notes on Centaurea: A proposal of classification, a description of new sections and subsections, and a species list of the redefined section Centaurea." Collectanea Botanica '33:e001. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3989/collectbot.2013.v33.001

###### Centaurea identification

* Four of the most common and invasive knapweed species can often be distinguished by the involucre bracts, the scale-like structures surrounding the inflorescence, just below flower petals.
* Centaurea stoebe (spotted): Bracts are black tipped, tip and upper margin have soft, spine-like fringe, Center spine shorter than others.
* Centaurea jacea (brown): Bracts are somewhat hairy, with broad, thin papery margins. Center of bract is dark brown.
* Centaurea nigra (black): Bracts are oval-shaped with broad, comb-like, dark brown or black fringed margins. Fringe length up to 3 times as long as bract width.
* Centaurea × moncktonii (meadow, brown × black): Bracts are light to dark brown, roundish, with thin papery margin with fringes about equal width of bract center.
* ↑ Celestine Duncan (2018). "What’s the Difference Between Spotted, Brown, Black, and Meadow Knapweed?" TechLine Invasive Plant News Published November 2018; reviewed May, 2019.

###### Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Centaurea

* Centaurea stoebe spotted knapweedCentaurea sect. Centaurea contains spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos), which has widely naturalized in much of North America , including New York State, where it is considered highly invasive.
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Centaureinae — Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Centaurea :
| Genus Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Centaurea | Knapweed, Starthistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. australis (Pančić ex A.Kern.) Greuter1838. Centaurea biebersteinii DC. in Prodr. 6:583 1872. Centaurea australis Pančić ex A. Kern. in Oesterr. Bot. Z. 22: 118 1879. Centaurea sublanata ssp. australis (Pančić ex A.Kern.) Nyman in Consp. Fl. Eur.:426 1901. Centaurea micranthos (Griseb.) Hayek in Denkschr. Kaiserl. Akad. Wiss., nom. illeg. 1907. Centaurea maculosa ssp. micranthos (Griseb.) Gugler in Ann. Hist.-Nat. Mus. Natl. Hung. 1925. Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Griseb.) Hayek in N.A.Stojanov & B.Stefanoff 1961. Acrolophus biebersteinii (DC.) Á.Löve & D.Löve in Bot. Not. 114:44 1972. Acosta micranthos (Griseb.) Soják in Čas. Nár. Mus., Odd. Přír. 140:134 1976. Centaurea biebersteinii ssp. australis (Pančić ex A.Kern.) Dostál in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 1984. Acosta biebersteinii (DC.) Dostál in Folia Mus. Rerum Nat. Bohemiae Occid. 2003. Centaurea stoebe ssp. australis (Pančić ex A.Kern.) Greuter in in Willdenowia 33: 56 2023. Centaurea stoebe var. micranthos (Griseb.) Tiehm in J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 17:22 | Spotted knapweed, Spotted star-thistleCentaurée maculée, Centaurée tachetée | Introduced from  southeast Europe, Highly invasive,  NYIS: 79%, CP-3 NE-1, SNA, GNR | | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea cineraria L.1753. Centaurea cineraria  L. 1785. C. candidissima  Lam. 1839. C. gymnocarpa  Moris & DeNot. 1974. Acosta cineraria (L.) Holub | Silver knapweed, Star-thistle, Dusty miller | Introduced from  southern Europe, Impersistent, Unk. naturalization, SNA | | Suffolk (1921) NYFA: X | USDA-X0 ARS-GRIN ITIS Tropicos IPN Images Wikispecies |
| Genus Centaurea (excluded taxa) | Knapweed, Starthistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Centaurea diffusa Lam.1785. Centaurea diffusa  Lam. 1799. C. parviflora Desf. 1822. C. parviflora Besser hom. 1970. C. microcalathina A.O.Tarassov 1972. Acosta diffusa (Lam.) Soják | Diffuse knapweed, White knapweed, Tumble knapweed | Introduced, Highly invasive,  NYIS: 79%, FEIS | | NYFA: 0 | USDA-XX ARS-GRIN Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea × psammogena  Centaurea diffusa ×   C. stoebe ssp. micranthos | Hybrid of  Diffuse knapweed &  Spotted knapweed | Introduced, Highly invasive,  NYIS: 79% | | | USDA-0X Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea paniculata | Jersey knapweed | Introduced, N.Y. excluded, Note | | NYFA-Excluded | USDA-X0 ITIS Images Wikispecies |
| 1 2 3 New York non-native plant invasiveness assessment – C. stoebe, C. diffusa, C. × psammogena: High (79). ↑ Appendix 3. Plant species that are considered moderately to highly invasive to natural areas in the central Finger Lakes region. Policy on the use of non-native plants in Cornell Plantations' accessioned collections (2009) ↑ Category 1 Plants - highly invasive - Eastern Region invasive plants, ranked by degree of invasiveness as based on information from States (1998) US Forest Service ↑ Euro+Med Plantbase lists Centaurea gymnocarpa as an accepted species, while the Global Compositae Checklist lists it as a synonym of Centaurea cinerea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2014.1, states "C. gymnocarpa belongs to the group known as the "cineraria" group. This group probably was once a single species when the land masses were united, but as islands were formed, new species evolved on each island. This means that today there are a number of closely related species of Centaurea in the Mediterranean growing on rocky seaward cliffs, all probably related to a common ancestor." ↑ Centaurea paniculata checklist entries were based on reports only. No known specimens from New York exist. It is similar in appearance to Centaurea stoebe. ||||||

###### Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Phrygia

* Centaurea × moncktonii meadow knapweedCentaurea sect. Phrygia, in New York State, contains three moderately invasive species of knapweeds, cumulatively known as the Centaurea jacea complex, and gradations of hybrids between possibly all three of them. The named hybrid Centaurea × moncktonii (C. jacea × C. nigra) is morphologically variable, and some individuals appear to have a similarity to C. nigrescens, possibly resulting from hybridization between all three species.
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Centaureinae — Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Phrygia :
| Genus Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Phrygia | Knapweed | N.Y. Status | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Centaurea jacea L.1753. Centaurea jacea  L. 1778. Jacea pratensis  Lam. 1799. Centaurea pratensis  Thuill. (i) | Brown knapweed, Brownray knapweed, Brown-rayed knapweed,, Brown starthistle | Introduced, Moderately invasive,  NYIS: 62%, CP-3 | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany ARS-GRIN Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea nigra L.1753. Centaurea nigra L. 1769. Jacea nigra (L.) Hill 1852. Centaurea nemoralis Jord. 1894. Centaurea jacea  ssp. nigra  (L.) Bonnier & Layens | Black knapweed, Lesser knapweed, Common knapweed, Black starthistle | Introduced from  Europe,  northern Africa, Moderately invasive,  NYIS: 62% | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany ARS-GRIN FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea × moncktonii C.E.Britton  Centaurea jacea ×   Centaurea nigra1799. Centaurea pratensis  Thuill. non Salisb. 1813. Centaurea nigra  var. radiata  DC. 18??. Centaurea jacea  var. pratensis  W.D.J.Koch 1905. Centaurea × gerstlaueri Erdner in… 1975. Centaurea debeauxii  ssp. thuillieri  Dostál 1921. Centaurea × moncktonii  C.E.Britton in… 1926. Centaurea × jacea  f. dumeticola  Sennen  ... | Meadow knapweed, Protean knapweed, Hybrid of  black knapweed &  brown knapweed | Introduced from  Europe, Moderately invasive,  NYIS: 62% | NYFA: X | USDA-0X POWO ARS-GRIN Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea nigrescens Willd.1803. Centaurea nigrescens Willd. 1831. C. vochinensis Bernh. ex Rchb. 1917. C. dubia  ssp. nigrescens  (Willd.) Hayek 1917. C. dubia  ssp. vochinensis  (Bernh. ex Rchb.) Hayek | Tyrol knapweed, Short-fringed knapweed, Short-fringed starthistle, Vochin knapweed | Introduced from  Eurasia, Moderately invasive,  NYIS: 62% | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany ARS-GRIN Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea phrygia L. ssp. phrygia    Centaurea austriaca     C. uniflora | Wig knapweed | Introduced, Impersistent, Unk. naturalization | NYFA: Xu NYFA: ? counties GBIF ? counties | USDA-X0 Images Wikispecies |
| 1 2 3 4 New York non-native plant invasiveness assessment – C. jacea, C. nigra, C. nigrescens, C. × moncktonii: Moderate (62). ↑ Appendix 3. Plant species that are considered moderately to highly invasive to natural areas in the central Finger Lakes region. Policy on the use of non-native plants in Cornell Plantations' accessioned collections (2009) ||||||

###### Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Cnicus

Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Centaureinae — Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Cnicus :
| Genus Centaurea subg. Centaurea sect. Cnicus | Knapweed, Starthistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Centaurea benedicta (L.) L.1753. Cnicus benedictus  L. 1763. Centaurea benedicta  (L.) L. 1895. Cirsium pugnax  Sommier & Levier 1908. Carduus benedictus  Thell. (i) | Blessed thistle, Our Lady's thistleChardon béni, Cnicaut béni, Chardon bénit | Introduced from  Eurasia,  northern Africa, Not naturalized, SNA | | Oswego (1883) NYFA: X | USDA-XX Go Botany VASCAN ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos IPN Images Wikispecies |

###### Centaurea subg. Lopholoma

* Centaurea solstitialis yellow knapweed
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Centaureinae — Centaurea subg. Lopholoma :
| Genus Centaurea subg. Lopholoma | Knapweed, Starthistle | N.Y. Status | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Centaurea solstitialis L. | Yellow starthistle, Barnaby star-thistle, St. Barnaby’s thistle | Introduced, Potentially invasive,  iMapInvasives,  Invasive.org: , Unknonwn naturalization, SNA | NYFA: X NYFA: 6 counties no counties | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea scabiosa | Great starthistle, Greater knapweed, Hardheads, Scabious knapweed, Greater centaury | Introduced, Unk. naturalization | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea calcitrapa | Purple starthistle, Red star-thistle, Caltrops | Introduced from  Europe, Not naturalized, Impersistent, SNA | Bronx (1898-99), Kings (1897), Queens (1879), Westchester (1894-95) NYFA: X | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea diluta | North African knapweed | Introduced, Not naturalized, Impersistent | NYFA: X | USDA-X0 Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea aspera | Rough star-thistle | Introduced, Not naturalized, Impersistent, SNA | New York (1880) NYFA: X | USDA-X0 Images Wikispecies |

###### Centaurea subg. Cyanus

* Centaurea cyanus bachelor’s button
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Centaureinae — Centaurea subg. Cyanus :
| Genus Centaurea subg. Cyanus | Knapweed, Starthistle | N.Y. Status | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Centaurea cyanus L. (1753)1769. Cyanus segetum  Hill 1837. Centaurea pulchra  DC. | Cornflower, Bachelor’s-button, Bluebottle, Bluebonnets | Introduced, Potentially invasive, Naturalized, Note:, SNA, GNR UPL-FACU Annual, Herb-forb | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |
| Centaurea montana L.1753. Centaurea montana L. 1768. Cyanus montanus (L) Hill | Mountain starthistle, Mountain cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial cornflower | Introduced, Potentially invasive,  Invasive.org: | NYFA: X | USDA-XX Images Wikispecies |
| ↑ Invasive.org lists Centaurea cyanus as invasive in WV, GA, AK, and a troublesome weed in KY, NC. ||||||

##### Carthamus

* Carthamus tinctoriusSafflower is grown primarily as a source of vegetable oil and mostly in Southwest.
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Centaureinae — Carthamus :
| Genus Carthamus | Distaff thistle | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Carthamus tinctorius L.1753. Carthamus tinctorius L. 1753. Cathamus tinctorius L. (i) | Safflower, Dyer's-saffron, False saffron, Bastard-saffron | Introduced from  western Asia?,  eastern Med.?, Impersistent, Not naturalized | | NYFA: X iNat | USDA-XX Go Botany ARS-GRIN ITIS FNA Tropicos Images Wikispecies |
| Carthamus lanatus L.    Carthamus lanatus L. | Woolly distaff thistle Downy safflower | Introduced, Potentially invasive | | NYFA: 0 counties iNat 0 counties | Go Botany Images Wikispecies |

##### Crupina

* Crupina vulgarisCrupina vulgaris has spread rapidly in western rangelands since first being reported in west-central Idaho in 1969. It has also been reported in Massachusetts.
* ↑ Go Botany (2022). Crupina vulgaris Cass. Native Plant Trust.
Asteraceae — Carduoideae — Cardueae — Centaureinae — Crupina :
| Genus Crupina | Bearded creeper | N.Y. Status | Images | Distribution | NY NPT |
| Crupina vulgaris Cass.1819. Crupina vulgaris Cass. | Common crupina ⓘ Bearded creeper ⓘ False saw-wort ⓘ Crupine ⓘ | Introduced, Potentially invasive,  iMapInvasives,  Invasive.org: 18 listing sources,  GRIIS-US: Invasive, Not listed in NYFA | | NYFA: not listed iNat GBIF no NY observations | Go Botany ARS-GRIN Images Wikispecies |