Centaurea jacea

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Centaurea jacea 01.JPG

|image2 = Bombus lapidarius - Centaurea jacea - Keila.jpg

|genus = Centaurea

|species = jacea

|authority = L.

}}

Centaurea jacea, brown knapweed{{BSBI 2007|accessdate=2014-10-17}} or brownray knapweed, is a species of herbaceous perennial plants in the genus Centaurea native to dry meadows and open woodland throughout Europe. It grows to {{convert|10|–|80|cm|0}} tall, and flowers mainly from June to September. It has simple leaves that are alternate in arrangement.{{Cite web |title=Centaurea jacea (brown knapweed): Go Botany |url=https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/centaurea/jacea/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org}}

File:Centaurea jacea Knoopkruid.jpg

In Britain and America, it is often found as a hybrid{{cite web |title=Centaurea x_moncktonii in Flora of North America @ efloras.org |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250068128 |website=www.efloras.org |access-date=24 October 2022}} of black knapweed, Centaurea nigra.{{cite book|last=Rose|first=Francis|authorlink=Francis Rose|title=The Wild Flower Key|year=1981|publisher=Frederick Warne & Co|isbn=0-7232-2419-6|pages=386–387}} Unlike the black knapweed, the flower heads always look as if they are rayed, forming a more open star rather than a brush-like tuft.