species: Centaurea calcitrapa
common name: purple starthistle
family: Asteraceae
where & when encountered: Monterey County, CA - 2009
Although this is considered to be an invasive, unwelcome weed species, having traveled all the way from the Mediterranean, it looks quite nice here on the prairie. It is also not nearly as common as its relative, yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Members of this genus are sometimes called knapweeds.
LOve the dramatic contrast in colors of the flower and the "prairie".
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