Stem

  • To 5 ft. tall; forms basil rosette, then rapid growth forms flower stems; lower parts of flowering stems are winged
Photo of Mediterranean desert knapweed
 

Leaves

  • Fuzzy leaves with deep, rounded lobes; leaves decrease in size higher on the plant
African Mustard
 

Flower

  • White to pink to purple petals, 0.5 in. tall and 0.5 in. wide with fuzzy hairs at their base; flowers often appear to have no petals; bracts at the base of the flower have light brown, pointed spines; seeds are tiny, barrel-shaped and have a crown of fine hairs that aid in wind dispersal
Photo of Mediterranean desert knapweed
 

Root

  • Stout, deep taproot and many fine, water-absorbing, surface roots

Other

  • Grows best on disturbed ground and seasonally flooded sites; no known occurrences in Nevada
  • Winter annual; each plant can produce several thousand seeds; seed remains viable in soil for several years
  • Can outcompete native vegetation by rapid growth which shades out other plants
Photo of Mediterranean desert knapweed
 

Control

  • Mechanical removal by pulling, digging or hoeing is effective; if plant is flowering, bag up plant and dispose of properly
  • Apply aminocyclopyrachlor+chlorsulfuron, aminopyralid or clopyralid preemergence or post emergence in the seedling to rosette stage; apply 2,4-D or dicamba post emergence during rosette to early bolting stage
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Mediterranean desert knapweed, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Extension Associated Contacts

 

Also of Interest:

 
Economic Development. In Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report (D. Marks-Marino (ed.)
The chapter reviews economic development issues & opportunities that Tribes face in the age of climate change. It includes summaries pertaining to Tribal histories & trauma, harmful federal policies & subsequent land tenure issues, & the surge of economic sovereignty through rene...
Singletary, L., Clow, S., Connoly M., Marks-Marino, D., Samoy, A., & Stout, S. 2021, Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report (D. Marks-Marino (ed.). Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals.
What Role Can Water Markets Play in Adapting to Climate Change? Evidence from Two River Basins in the Western United States Koebele, E., Singletary, L., Hockaday, S., & Ormerod, K.J. 2021, In John C. Duerk (Ed.) Environmental Philosophy, Politics, and Policy. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Tribes and Indigenous Peoples
Climate change threatens Indigenous peoples' livelihood & economies, including agriculture, hunting & gathering, fishing, forestry, energy, recreation, & tourism enterprises. The economies rely on, but face institutional barriers to their self-determined management of water, land...
Jantarasami, L.C., Novak, R., Delgado, R., Marino, E., McNeeley, S., Narducci, C., Singletary, L., Raymond-Yakoubian, J., & Rowys Whyte, K. 2018, Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, & B.C. Stewart (Eds.), Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II. Washington, DC: US Global Change Research Program, pp. 572–603.
Collaborative Modeling to Assess and Enhance Community Climate Resiliency
Creating effective community responses to improve resilience to extreme climate events, such as prolonged drought, requires acknowledging and understanding the interaction between human and natural systems.
Singletary, L. 2016, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, Fact Sheet FS-16-04
Western Land Managers will Need all Available Tools for Adapting to Climate Change, Including Grazing: A Critique of Beschta et al.
In a previous article, Beschta et al. (Environ Manag 51(2):474-491, 2013) argue that grazing by large ungulates (both native and domestic) should be eliminated or greatly reduced on western public lands to reduce potential climate change impacts...
Svejcar,Tony, Chad Boyd, Kirk Davies, Matthew Madsen, Jon Bates, Roger Sheley, Clayton Marlow, David Bohnert, Mike Borman, Ricardo Mata-Gonza`lez, John Buckhouse, Tamzen Stringham, Barry Perryman Sherman Swanson, Kenneth Tate, Mel George, George Ruyle, Bruce Roundy, Chris Call, Kevin Jensen, Karen Launchbaugh, Amanda Gearhart, Lance Vermeire, John Tanaka, Justin Derner, Gary Frasier, Kris Havstad, 2014, Environmental Management
 

Associated Programs

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Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans

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Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management program is a long-term management strategy that uses a combination of tactics to reduce pests to tolerable levels with potentially lower costs for the pest manager and minimal effect on the environment.

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Grow Your Own, Nevada!

Learn the secrets of high desert gardening