Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Centaurea melitensis L.

Family

Asteraceae (Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory)
Compositae (South Australia)

Common Names

cockspur thistle, Malta star-thistle, Malta starthistle, Malta thistle, Maltese centaury, Maltese cockspur, Maltese star thistle, Maltese star-thistle, Maltese starthistle, Maltese thistle, Napa star thistle, Napa thistle, saucy Jack, star thistle, tocolote, tocalote star thistle, wild Irishman, yellow burr cockspur, yellow cockspur, yellow star thistle

Origin

Native to the Mediterranean Region (i.e. the Azores, the Canary Islands, Algeria, north-western Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, France, Portugal and Spain).

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in Australia (i.e. throughout Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and South Australia, and also in parts of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania). Also naturalised on Norfolk Island and previously also on Lord Howe Island.

Naturalised overseas in the USA and Hawaii.

Notes

Although this species is mainly regarded as a weed of disturbed sites and agricultural areas (i.e. crops and pastures), it also invades rangelands, grasslands, open woodlands and other disturbed natural habitats. It is therefore also regarded as an environmental weed in several states (i.e. Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland). During a recent survey, it was listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region.

In South Australia, Maltese cockspur (Centaurea melitensis) is regarded as being invasive in intact native vegetation with a moderate potential to reduce native species diversity. It is present in several conservation areas in this state (e.g. Coorong National Park, Lincoln National Park and Marino Conservation Park) and is one of the most common introduced species in the Flinders Ranges region. Maltese cockspur (Centaurea melitensis) is also seen as a threat to several bioregions in Victoria.

Internationally, it is also listed in the Global Invasive Species Database because of its highly competitive nature and ability to form dense, impenetrable, stands that displace native vegetation.