Centaurea montana
(Mountain Bluet)
Centaurea montana, Breckenridge, Summit Co. 3553/3575
Centaurea montana, Breckenridge, Summit Co. 3513/3523
Campanula uniflora, Hoosier Pass, Summit Co. 5562
| Scientific Name | Centaurea montana | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CEMO |
| Common Name | Mountain Bluet, Mountain Cornflower | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 36966 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Up to subalpine; dry to moist soils along roadsides, disturbed areas and meadows; escaped from cultivation.
Plant: Erect, leafy perennial 10 to 28 inches tall; one to several hairy stems. Leaves: Alternate, ovate to oblong or lanceolate, 2-3/4 to 7 inches long, margins entire or somewhat toothed; lower leaves winged-petiolate, mid and upper leaves sessile. Inflorescence: Showy, large usually solitary heads with 35 to 60+ disc florets, the outer 10 to 20 are sterile with long (1 to 1-3/4 inches long), blue corollas that are deeply lobed; 25 to 40+ center florets with purple corollas and dark blue-purple anthers; no ray florets; overlapping, ovate to lanceolate, greenish phyllaries with ragged brown to black margins. Bloom Period: July to September. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Univ. of Alaska and Flora of North America. Note: None of the literature shows the plant in the central Colorado mountains, however, the plant below was found in the wild at 9500 ft. in Summit County, possibly a garden escapee. |
BONAP Distribution Map
Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Introduced |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains