Knapweed ID
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 2:29 pm
Knapweed ID:
Lots of Knapweed in flower at the moment, most of it presumably the Common Knapweed, Centaurea nigra.
However, Anno and I were on a former industrial site near Runcorn Docks yesterday and noticed these specimens growing on limestone ballast. The presence nearby of Common Centaury, Centaurium erythraea, made us wonder if this might just be the Chalk Knapweed, C. debeauxii? I haven't a clue how you tell the two knapweeds apart, although some chap called Stace apparently knows the secret, (Flora of the British Isles, Edition 3). If only I had a copy to hand. Any ideas?
Tom.
Lots of Knapweed in flower at the moment, most of it presumably the Common Knapweed, Centaurea nigra.
However, Anno and I were on a former industrial site near Runcorn Docks yesterday and noticed these specimens growing on limestone ballast. The presence nearby of Common Centaury, Centaurium erythraea, made us wonder if this might just be the Chalk Knapweed, C. debeauxii? I haven't a clue how you tell the two knapweeds apart, although some chap called Stace apparently knows the secret, (Flora of the British Isles, Edition 3). If only I had a copy to hand. Any ideas?
Tom.