Centaurea melitensis

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Asterales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Diaphoretickes Cladus: CAM Cladus: Archaeplastida Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Eudicots Cladus: Core eudicots Cladus: Asterids Cladus: Campanulids Ordo: Asterales

Familia: Asteraceae
Subfamilia: Carduoideae
Tribus: Cardueae
Subtribus: Centaureinae
Genus: Centaurea
Species: Centaurea melitensis

Name

Centaurea melitensis L., Sp. Pl.: 917 (1753).

Synonyms

Homotypic
- Solstitiaria melitensis (L.) Hill, Hort. Kew.: 62 (1768).
- Cyanus melitensis (L.) Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 383 (1791).
- Seridia melitensis (L.) Sweet, Hort. Brit.: 218 (1826).
- Triplocentron melitense (L.) Cass. in G.-F.Cuvier, Dict. Sci. Nat., ed. 2. 44: 38 (1826).
- Calcitrapa melitensis (L.) Soják, Cas. Nár. Mus., Odd. Prír. 140: 133 (1972).
Heterotypic
- Calcitrapa sessiliflora Lam., Fl. Franç. 2: 35 (1779).
- Centaurea apula Lam., Encycl. 1: 674 (1785).
  - Triplocentron apulum (Lam.) Cass. in G.-F.Cuvier, Dict. Sci. Nat., ed. 2. 55: 349 (1828).
  - Centaurea melitensis f. apula (Lam.) Cout., Fl. Portugal: 658 (1913).
- Calcitrapa conferta Moench, Methodus: 564 (1794), nom. illeg.
- Calcitrapa patibilcensis Kunth in F.W.H.von Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp., ed. fol., 4: 18 (1818).
  - Centaurea patibilcensis (Kunth) F.Dietr., Neu. Nachtr. Vollst. Lex. Gärtn. 2: 436 (1826).
- Centaurea americana Spreng., Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 3: 407 (1826), nom. illeg.
- Centaurea congesta Willd. ex DC., Prodr. 6: 593 (1838).
- Centaurea glomerata Webb & Berthel., Hist. Nat. Iles Canaries 3(2; 2): 360 (1846), nom. illeg.

Distribution

Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
- Regional: Northern Europe
  - Great Britain, Ireland, Norway (introduced).
- Regional: Middle Europe
  - Belgium, Germany, Poland, Switzerland (introduced).
- Regional: Southwestern Europe
  - Baleares, Corse, France, Portugal, Sardegna, Spain.
- Regional: Southeastern Europe
  - Greece, Italy, Kriti, Sicilia, Northwest Balkan Peninsula.
Continental: Africa
- Regional: Northern Africa
  - Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia.
- Regional: Macaronesia
  - Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Madeira, Selvagens.
- Regional: Northeast Tropical Africa
  - Ethiopia (introduced).
- Regional: South Tropical Africa
  - Zimbabwe (introduced).
- Regional: Southern Africa
  - Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Provinces (introduced).
Continental: Asia-Temperate
- Regional: Western Asia
  - East Aegean Islands (introduced).
- Regional: Arabian Peninsula
  - Yemen (introduced).
Continental: Asia-Tropical
- Regional: Indian Subcontinent
  - India (introduced).
Continental: Australasia
- Regional: Australia
  - Norfolk Islands, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia (introduced).
Continental: Pacific (introduced)
- Regional: Southwestern Pacific
  - New Caledonia.
- Regional: North-Central Pacific
  - Hawaii.
Continental: Northern America (introduced)
- Regional: Western Canada
  - British Columbia.
- Regional: Northwestern U.S.A.
  - Idaho, Oregon, Washington.
- Regional: North-Central U.S.A.
  - Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin.
- Regional: Northeastern U.S.A.
  - Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
- Regional: Southwestern U.S.A.
  - Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah.
- Regional: South-Central U.S.A.
  - New Mexico, Texas.
- Regional: Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi.
- Regional: Mexico
  - Mexico Northwest.
Continental: Southern America (introduced)
- Regional: Western South America
  - Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru.
- Regional: Southern South America
  - Juan Fernández Islands, Uruguay.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2^nd Edition

References

Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 917. Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2025. Centaurea melitensis in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Oct 6. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2025. Centaurea melitensis. Published online. Accessed: 6 Oct 2025. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2025. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. . Centaurea melitensis. Accessed: 6 Oct 2025.Reference page.
Euro+Med 2006 onwards: Centaurea melitensis in Euro+Med PlantBase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Oct 6.Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Centaurea melitensis in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06. Reference page.

Vernacular names

Deutsch: Malta-Flockenblume
English: Maltese star thistle
español: Hierba de cristo
suomi: Maltankaunokki
Nederlands: Maltezer centauri