Family: Compositae (Asteraceae)
Flowering time: June–October
Size: 30–60 cm
Habitat: meadows, pastures, among shrubs, forest edges, bright forests and along roadsides
The erect stem of common knapweed (Centaurea jacea) is simple or branched in the upper half. Lateral shoots are short. The stem is leafy with alternately arranged lanceolate to oval leaves. At the top of the shoots, an inflorescence develops, which is characteristic of the Asteraceae and is called a head. The stem is thickened beneath the head. The head is formed by numerous scarlet flowers. The egg-shaped involucre beneath the flowers is formed by the involucral leaves. For the involucral leaves of the common knapweed, a brownish, dry, leathery edge is characteristic, which is entire or torn, never comb-like-lobed. The common knapweed is widespread throughout Slovenia and is one of the most common plants in our country.
