star thistle

or star-thistle

noun

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

star thistle

noun

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of star thistle¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Word History and Origins

Origin of star thistle¹

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

Example Sentences

At the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, Hankins has researched the effect of Indigenous prescribed burning practices on an area that was dominated by star thistle and other invasive plants.

From Scientific American

A hidden wetlands habitat that was once buried in heavy scrap metals and star thistle, environmentalists hailed this corner of the Bayview neighborhood as a restoration success story.

From Salon

Working Dogs for Conservation has trained dogs to find spotted knapweed in Montana, Chinese bush clover in Iowa, yellow star thistle in Colorado, rosy wolf snails in Hawaii and brown tree snakes in Guam.

From Washington Times

Driving up from the Central Valley, you pass through hills thick with yellow grass and star thistle and dotted with the black domes of great spreading oak trees.

From New York Times

Mr. Heiple, a retired geologist, leads a group of about 50 volunteers who spent 4,000 hours last year hunched over the park’s grassland areas digging up culprits like the yellow star thistle, broom, teasel and Italian thistle.

From New York Times