Family: composites (Asteraceae)
Flowering time: July–September
Size: 30–60 cm
Habitat: forest and roadside edges, floodplains, meadows and damp shrublands
Carniolan knapweed (Centaurea carniolica) is at first glance similar to the common knapweed. But if we look at the inflorescence up close, we notice that the involucral leaves that surround the cyclamen-colored inflorescence are distinctly green-black. The green involucral leaves have at their tip a developed black triangular appendage. The edge of the appendage is bristly, or knapweed-like lobed. Carniolan knapweed has alternately arranged stem leaves that are densely crowded beneath the head. Their leaf margins can be entire or serrated with sparse teeth. The species is widespread across Slovenia.
Because the species was described from specimens found in the pre-Alpine region of Slovenia, we say that here it has its type locality.
