Taxonomy: Fam. Compositae// Genus:  Centaurea// Species: Centaurea calcitrapa L.

Determined according to the botanical key provided in Flora Europaea Vol. 4 (Tutin et al., 1976).

Lifeform: Annual (therophyte according to the Raunkiær system) or biennial.

Distribution: Native to Macaronesia, Mediterranean to Iran and Arabian Peninsula according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).

Habitat: Disturbed ground, alongside roads.

Flowering period: Summer: JUL,AUG.

Centaurea calcitrapa - habit. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - habit. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - stem with cauline leaves and developing capitula. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - stem with cauline leaves and developing capitula. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - developing capitulum. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - developing capitulum. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - stem with cauline leaves and developing capitula. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 13.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - basal leaves. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - habit. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - stem with capitula. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - capitulum. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - capitula. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - capitulum. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - capitulum. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - capitula. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - plant senescence. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - fruiting capitula. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Centaurea calcitrapa - fruiting capitula. Osogovo, hilly region between villages of Beli and Nivichani, 12.09.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

References:

Centaurea calcitrapa L. Plants of the World Online portal, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330052-2 [Accessed 12.09.2021].

Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M. & Webb, D.A. (1976). Flora Europaea. Volume 4: Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.