Publication: Sp. Pl. 3: 2288. 1803.

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Herbarium search: CPNWH

Notes: FNA19: Tyrol knapweed is considered to be a noxious weed in Washington and Oregon.

In recent years there has been much controversy regarding the name(s) to be applied to the North American Tyrol knapweeds. The names Centaurea vochinensis, C. nigrescens, and C. dubia have all been used in twentieth-century North American floras, and J. T. Kartesz and C. A. Meacham (1999) have accepted C. transalpina as well. R. J. Moore (1972) tentatively accepted two species, C. nigrescens and C. dubia, placing C. transalpina and C. vochinensis as synonyms through application beneath both species. Moore discussed the considerable similarities and practical difficulties of differentiating the taxa. H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist (1991) recognized C. dubia as including C. nigrescens and C. vochinensis. E. G. Voss (1972–1996, vol. 3) recognized C. nigrescens as including C. dubia and C. vochinensis. Kartesz and Meacham accept C. nigrescens as a species, including C. vochinensis; they also accept C. transalpina with C. dubia as a synonym. In our investigation of the North American Tyrol knapweeds we have not been able to distinguish more than one (admittedly variable) entity. At the species level the correct name for this taxon is Centaurea nigrescens.

Centaurea dubia Suter, sometimes applied to plants that belong here, is not a valid name."

Last updated 7/7/2020 by David Giblin.