star thistle

or star-thistle

noun

any of several naturalized Eurasian plants of the genus Centaurea, especially C. calcitrapa, having purplish, spiny flower heads.

star thistle

See centaury
any of several plants of the genus Centaurea , esp C. calcitrapa , of Eurasia, which has spiny purplish flower heads: family Asteraceae (composites) See also centaury

First recorded in 1570–80

C16: so called because it has a thistle-shaped flower surrounded by radiating spines

They are the yellow-flowered centaury, the mountain centaury, the star thistle and the rough centaury: the first predominates.

What is known as the purple star thistle was named for Chiron the Centaur.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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