Iberian star thistle, Spanish thistle
Centaurea iberica
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 20-100 cm tall. It grows for one or two years. The leaves are divided along the stalk. There are about 4 pairs of side lobes or segments. Leaves get smaller up the stem.
There are 400 to 600 Centaurea species.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in mountainous regions in the Mediterranean. In western China it grows on mountain slopes between 500-900 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Argentina, Asia, Caucasus, Central Asia, Europe, Georgia, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mediterranean, Middle East, North America, Pakistan, Russia, South America, Tajikistan, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan
How it is used for food
The young shoots are eaten raw or included in cooking. The young stems and leaf stalks are trimmed and washed and boiled for a few minutes then flavoured with garlic and lemon juice.
Edible parts
Leaves, leaf stalks, young stems
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Cakirdikeni, Hari qbila, HIstiri cavbellok, Histrizerk, Murrar, Pincari teal, Strizerk.