

How to identify Russian knapweed (Rhaponticum repens)
Russian knapweed, also known as Hardhead thistle
Russian knapweed is recognizable by its thistle-like, bright pink to purple flower heads which bloom from early summer to fall. The plant typically reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) and spreads via a vast underground network of roots. Its leaves are alternately arranged on the stem, with lower leaves that are deeply lobed and upper leaves that become smaller and less divided. This species has a robust, spindle-shaped root system and can be distinguished by the bracts beneath the flowers, which have a paper-like texture with a fringe of narrow, spine-tipped scales.
Bright pink to purple thistle-like flower heads
Urn-shaped pink to purple flowers, transitioning to straw color
Ivory achene fruit with tufts of hair (pappus), <1 inch (2.5 cm)
Basal rosette leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, pinnately lobed on stem
Distinctive paper-like bracts beneath flowers with spine-tipped scales
Russian knapweed features a basal rosette of leaves that can be 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, either lobed or unlobed. The stem leaves are oblong, ranging up to 6 inches (15 cm) in length. These leaves are pinnately lobed lower on the stem and become progressively smaller and less lobed higher on the stem, sometimes appearing entire. The leaves exhibit a smooth texture and a green hue, with a notable vein pattern that enhances their structural definition.
Russian knapweed produces flowers that range from pink to purple, blooming during the summer and fall. Each flower is urn-shaped and about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) in size. The blooms have multiple petals arranged in a head-inflorescence. As the flowers mature, they transition to a straw color. These distinctive flowers are crucial for identifying russian knapweed and add a noticeable splash of color during their blooming period.
The fruit of russian knapweed is an ivory-colored achene, which is a small, dry, one-seeded fruit that does not open to release the seed. As the fruit matures, the defining feature is its tufts of hair, known as a pappus, which are initially present but shed over time. The achene's surface texture may feel slightly rough, and its size is comparable to that of small grains, typically under 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length. This fruit's appearance, including the loss of the pappus, is a characteristic useful for identification.
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Scientific Classification of Russian knapweed