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Centaurea biebersteinii DC

Flora Europaea mesoxeric-xeric grassland element frequently acting like a ruderal in all regions with the exception of the steppes, boreal and subalpine-alpine areas; usually locally replaced in the calcareous mountains from the nemoral belt by the closely related species with much narrower ranges (Centaurea triniifolia, Centaurea reichebachii, Centaurea calvescens) which happen to be there, otherwise populating without problems also these areas. Eastern Central European - west Balkan - north Pontic Festucetalia valesiacae (except for the steppe areas), not rare in Artemisietea vulgaris almost all R34 habitats, except for the steppe areas, not rare in R87s also with the exception of the steppe           After Centaurea apiculata ssp. spinulosa  this species is the most common Centaurea in whole Romania being frequent also as a ruderal. It is also the most common species in subgenus Acroplophus in the country. Probably a mesoxeric grassland species at its origins it is however very favoured and expands its range due to antropisation especially in Transylvania and Moldavia. A common synonym for this species is Centaurea micranthos Gmel. The typical subspecies has a large range from Central Europe up to north Pontic regions and western Asia. In the northern Balkans there are four narrow endemic subspecies. Pictures taken from the western area of Cluj-Napoca city on Faget forest area in mesoxeric grasslands dominated by Brachypodium pinnatum located on Eocene limestones, in August 2005. dr. Alexandru Badarau, alexandru@transsilvanica.com   Pictures taken on august 2005 near Calimanesti, Valcea county in a ruderal phytocenosis. dr. Alexandru Badarau, alexandru@transsilvanica.com Pictures taken between Podeni and Pietroasa, Cluj county, August 2009