SafePlants

Crupina vulgaris: Common Crupina

Crupina vulgaris, belonging to the Asteraceae (aster or sunflower) family, is commonly known as common crupina or bearded-creeper. It is also referred to as false saw-wort.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Crupina vulgaris Cass.
• Family: Asteraceae (also known as Compositae)
• Other Scientific Names (Synonyms):
  • Centaurea acuta
  • Centaurea crupina
  • Centaurea pauciflora
  • Centaurea tenuifolia
  • Centaurea vulgaris
• USDA Symbol: CRVU2

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southern Europe.
• Introduced to North America, first discovered in Idaho in 1969.
• Found in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in the United States.
• Has not yet been detected in Canada but is considered a potential invasive species there.
• Prefers dry south slopes and pastures.

Ecological Role

• Designated as a Federal Noxious Weed and a Class A Noxious Weed in Washington State due to its limited distribution and invasive potential.
• Forms solid stands, reducing forage for livestock.
• Contaminates hay and other forage crops, significantly reducing their quality.
• Avoided by cattle.
• Invades range, pastures, and minimally disturbed lands.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Winter annual, germinating in the fall or early spring.
• Erect and slender annual herb growing to 1-4 feet (0.3-1.2 m) tall, or up to 1 meter.
• Openly branched above.
• Slender stems.
• Leaves are alternate and finely dissected. Basal leaves are oblong and undivided, often not present at flowering.
• Seedlings have red or purple midribs on their cotyledons. Rosette leaf margins are smooth to slightly toothed.
• Flowers are small, pink to purple, blooming in May.
• Seeds are dark, about the size of a kernel of wheat, and black with a stiff pappus.
• Achenes are subcylindrical, 3-5 mm long X 1.5-4 mm in diameter with a persistent pappus of several rows of stiff, forwardly-barbed bristles.

Considerations for Pets

• Common crupina can form solid stands which decreases forage for livestock, suggesting it may be unpalatable or have other properties that animals avoid.

Considerations for Children

• Seeds are black with a stiff pappus.

Quirky Facts

• Although not yet detected in Canada, common crupina has invaded western rangelands of the United States, and is considered a potential invasive species there.
• Common crupina was first reported in west-central Idaho in 1969 and spread rapidly.
• Vernalization, or lack thereof, significantly affects the flowering time of some varieties of common crupina.

Further Information

• Images courtesy of Bugwood.org and Metro King County (splash.metrokc.gov/wlr/lands/Weeds/crup.htm).
• Additional information available from abinvasives.ca, Idahoweedawareness.org, Utah State University, and the University of Idaho Extension.