Species:
Centaurea solstitialis
Common Name:
yellow star thistle
Systems Affected (standardized):
forest/woodland, rangeland
Regions(s) present (updated by AB):
SE
Impacts:
can displace native plants, reduce native wildlife habitat and forage, decrease native plant and animal diversity, limit access to recreational areas, and reduce land value. Dense infestations of yellow starthistle can fragment sensitive plant and animal habitat. deplete soil moisture reserves and alter the water cycle in annual grassland and foothill woodland ecosystems. toxic to horses, causing a neurological disease called equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia, or "chewing disease"
Source? likely to be reintroduced:
A major risk for introduction of C. solstitialis is through contaminated seeds
Info Blurb:
Can displace native species, decreasing biodiversity and reducing wildlife habitat and forage.
Dense infestations can deplete soil moisture reserves and alter the water cycle in some ecosystems. Introduced through contaminated seeds.
Native Regions in OK:
NONE
Current and past designations:
BS, KS, NM
Present in OK?
Yes
Present in Bordering States?
TX, NM, CO, KS, MO
Has Legal Status in BS?
CO List A, NM Class A