SafePlants

Crupina vulgaris: Common Crupina

Crupina vulgaris, commonly known as common crupina or bearded-creeper, is a flowering plant species belonging to the Asteraceae (sunflower or aster) family.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Crupina vulgaris Cass.
• Family: Asteraceae (also known as Compositae)
• Synonyms: Centaurea crupina Linnaeus
• Other Common Names: Bearded creeper, false saw-wort, starry scabious

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean region.
• Introduced to North America and found in western rangelands of the United States.
• Specific locations mentioned include California (Sonoma and Modoc counties), Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
• Also found in Southeastern Europe, including Bulgaria and regions such as Sicilia and Malta.

Ecological Role

• Classified as a Federal Noxious Weed and a Class A Noxious Weed in Washington State.
• Considered an invasive plant that can form solid stands, decreasing forage for livestock.
• Contaminates hay and other forage crops, reducing their quality.
• Avoided by cattle.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Winter annual, growing 1-4 ft (0.3-1.2 m) tall, or up to 1 meter.
• Erect and slender annual herb.
• Leaves are alternate and finely dissected.
• Seedling leaves are fleshy and oval, with cotyledons having a red to purple midrib.
• Small pink to purple flowers are followed by dark seeds about the size of a kernel of wheat.
• Has a short taproot.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Mention of Puccinia crupinae, a rust disease agent being evaluated for biological control of common crupina.

Further Information

• USDA symbol: CRVU2
• Image available at Bugwood.org (Image Number: 1149103), used under CC BY 3.0
• Utah State University and USDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North references.
• More multimedia resources on Wikimedia Commons.