BY: Sarah Ayllon

Purple star thistle Centaurea calcitrapa  Kingdom: Plants ( Plantae )  Phylum:  Class: Magnoliopsida

Distribution  Introduced in California, early 20 th 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