COMPOSITE 421 



COMPOSITE 

 Arctium Lappa, Linn. Burdock ; Burr-thistle 



First reported by Colenso in Hawke's Bay in 1882., It rapidly 

 spread across the North Island from Hawke's Bay to the Foxton 

 district. In 1894 it was very common about Hunterville, and was 

 also reported from localities in Canterbury and Otago. Kingsley 

 reported it as common in Nelson and Marlborough. 



In the Manual (1906) it is said to be not uncommon in waste 

 places from the East Cape, southwards, in both islands. (FL, Feb. 

 to April.) 



It was declared a noxious weed in the Second Schedule of the 

 Act of 1900, and burdock (of any species) was included among 

 noxious seeds, and honoured with a second declaration of its un- 

 desirable character by special Gazette Notice of 20th June, 1901^. 



Centaurea nigra, Linn. Knapweed 



First recorded in 1 869 by Kirk as occurring in Auckland. Reported 

 in 1903 by W. W. Smith as being spread freely through the Ashburton 

 district by goldfinches, which are very fond of the seed. In the 

 Manual (1906) it is stated to occur in fields and waste places, but not 

 commonly. (FL, Feb. to March.) 



Centaurea cyanus, Linn. Cornflower 



First recorded by Armstrong in 1879 from Canterbury. Also 

 reported from Ashburton by W. W. Smith in 1903. Elsewhere it is 

 scarcely even a garden escape. Goldfinches are also very fond of the 

 seeds of this species. 



In Europe this flower is visited by Apis mellifica and Bombus 

 lapidarius. 



Centaurea Caldtrapa, Linn. Star-thistle 



First recorded in Hooker's Ust in 1864. In 1895 it was reported 

 by the Agricultural Department as occurring in Canterbury, Wel- 

 lington, Hawke's Bay and Auckland. Cheeseman records it in the 

 Manual (1906) as not uncommon in fields and waste places in both 

 islands. It flowers from Dec. to Feb. In Europe the flowers are 

 fertilised by Bombus lapidarius. 



^ No species of carline-thistle has been recorded, as far as I can find out, by 

 any botanist in New Zealand, as a naturalised plant, but in the list of thistles in 

 the Second Schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act, 1900, "Carlina (Stemless thistle), 

 any species" is declared a noxious seed, and is also included in the Second Schedule 

 by Special Gazette Notice of 20th June, 1901. 



