Spotted knapweed is a plant native to Europe and Asia. It was introduced to North America in the 1890s as a contaminant in agricultural seed and through soil discarded from ships' ballast. The species has become a serious problem of pastures and rangeland in the western United States. Here it seems to be found primarily as scattered individual plants on disturbed sites.
Spotted knapweed flowers somewhat resemble a small thistle: pale red-blue flowers on branched stems. Pollinated flowers produce an abundance of small seeds with a fluffy tuft that helps the wind disperse the seeds.
In the restored grassland through which I was walking there were scattered plants of spotted knapweed, some were in bloom but most had already produced seeds.
A flash of color caught my eye – it was a male American goldfinch busily feeding on knapweed seed by picking apart the dry flower heads, first discarding the white fluff –
He moved to another spot on the many-branched plant -
And I moved on.
Fun plant! I'll never remember the names of so many. I have to keep looking them up.
ReplyDeleteThe goldfinches are amazing.
The plant is pretty. Love all the Goldfinch photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pop of color in the fields! I love Goldfinches and we don't see them as often here now.
ReplyDelete