Transcript Purple Star Thistle

PURPLE
STAR THISTLE
BY: Sarah Ayllon
Purple star thistle
Centaurea calcitrapa
 Kingdom: Plants ( Plantae )
 Phylum:
 Class: Magnoliopsida
Distribution
 Introduced in California, early 20th century
 Native to Mediterranean region of southern
Europe and northern Africa
 Came accidentally through contaminated seeds
Effects on Us!
 Yellow Star Thistle can effect our grain
fields and other agricultural areas where
seeds can contaminate grain harvest and
lower crop quality and value
Effects on Ecosystems
 Displaces more valuable foreign species on
rangelands, reduces wildlife habitat and forage
 The Star Thistle also depletes soil moisture and
alters water cycle
 Major problems on annual rangelands in the
San Francisco Bay area
Food Web
Goat
Cow
star thistle
Humans
Sun
Bee
It’s a Success!
 Growing grasslands
 When 2 star thistle are combined they grow
heavier
+
 For example: purple + yellow= 2x star thistle

Their Future…
 Herbicides are most effective (Applied in
Springs)
 Grubbing or digging are effective