Centaurea

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Centaurea | image = Star thistle4708.JPG | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Bumblebee on Star Thistle | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Asterales | familia = Asteraceae | genus = Centaurea | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = Around 350-500 species; see text }}

Centaurea is a genus of about 350-500 species of herbaceous thistles and thistle-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, mostly native to the Old World. Common names for different species include star thistle, cornflower, knapweed and bluet. Some species are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens.

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Species

Species in this genus include:

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Nectar

Image:Yellow star thistle.jpg Centaurea are copious nectar producers, especially on high-lime soils, and are major honey plants for beekeepers. Star thistle varietal honey is light and slightly tangy. It is one of the finest honeys produced in the US, but as it is abundant, some of it is fraudulently relabeled and sold as the scarce, expensive Sourwood honey of the Appalachian Mountains.

The high nectar yield of the genus makes it very attractive to insects such as butterflies and day-flying moths such as Six-spot Burnet. The larvae of some other Lepidoptera species use Centaurea species as food plants - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Centaurea.

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References

de:Flockenblumen es:Centaurea eo:Centaŭreo fr:Centaurea lt:Bajorė nl:Centaurie no:Knoppurt pl:Chaber ru:Василёк sq:Centaurea zh:矢車菊屬

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