Taxonomy: Fam. Compositae// Genus: Centaurea// Species: Centaurea stoebe L.
Synonyms: Centaurea maculosa Lam., Encycl. 1: 669. 1785; Centaurea rhenana Boreau, Fl. Centre France, ed. 3, 2: 355 (1857).
Literature used for determination: Hayek (1928-1931), Dostál (1976 in Tutin et al.), Gajić (1975 in Josifović), Stoyanov, Raycheva & Cheschmedzhiev (2021).
Two forms were recorded in the same locality in the Probishtip region- white-flowered form with yellow to yellow-brown appendages, which was predominant, and the standard purple flowered form with dark brown to blackish appendages.
Lifeform: Perennial plant; hemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiær system.
Distribution: Native from Europe to Central Asia and Caucasus according to the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).
Habitat: Rocky terrains.
Flowering period: Summer (JUN, JUL).
Locality: Probishtip, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, above Mangov kamen. Date: 07.06.2026. White-flowered form.
Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Anogramma leptophylla – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – synflorescence. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – synflorescence. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – synflorescence. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – fruiting capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – fruiting capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – fruiting capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – upper cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – upper cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – middle cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – middle cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – middle cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – middle cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – middle cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – stem with leaves. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – lower cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – lower cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – lower cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – adaxial side of cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of cauline leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – basal leaves. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – basal leaves. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – basal leaves. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – adaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – adaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – petioles of basal leaves. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Locality: Probishtip, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, above Mangov kamen. Date: 07.06.2026. Purple-flowered form.
Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – florets. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – side view of capitulum and involucre. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – fruiting capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – fruiting capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – fruiting capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – fruiting capitulum. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – stem with leaves. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – stem and leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – adaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Locality: Probishtip, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, above Mangov kamen. Date: 07.06.2026. Young plants in first year of growth.
Centaurea stoebe – young plant in the rosette stage. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – young plant in the rosette stage. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – young plant in the rosette stage. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – young plant in the rosette stage. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – young plant in the rosette stage. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – adaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – adaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – abaxial side of basal leaf. Osogovo, rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, 07.06.2026. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Images of herbarium specimens. Specimens from Probishtip, rocks cliffs rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River, collected 07.06.2026.
Centaurea stoebe – herbarium specimen. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – herbarium specimen. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – herbarium specimen. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – herbarium specimen. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – herbarium specimen. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – herbarium specimen. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – herbarium specimen. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – herbarium specimen. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Scaled images and close-ups. Specimens from Probishtip, rocks cliffs rock cliffs between the village of Ratkovica and the Shtalkovichka River. Date: 07.06.2026.
Centaurea stoebe – habit. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – habit. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitulum. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – close-up of involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – close-up of involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – close-up of involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe. Left: outer involucral bracts. Center: middle involucral bracts. Right: inner involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – appendages of middle involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – appendages of middle involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – appendages of middle involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitula. Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – close-up of involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – close-up of involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe. Left: outer involucral bracts. Center: middle involucral bracts. Right: inner involucral bracts. Scale in mm Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe. Left: outer involucral bracts. Center: middle involucral bracts. Right: inner involucral bracts. Scale in mm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe. Left: outer involucral bracts. Center: middle involucral bracts. Right: inner involucral bracts. Scale in mm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – middle involucral bracts. Scale in mm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – appendages of middle involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – appendages of middle involucral bracts. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – achenes. Scale in mm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – achenes. Scale in mm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – capitula and upper cauline leaves (herbarium specimen). Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – middle cauline leaves (herbarium specimen). Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Centaurea stoebe – basal leaf (herbarium specimen). Scale in cm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Dostál, J. 1976. Centaurea L. In Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A. (eds.), Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 254–301.
Gajić, M. 1975. Rod Centaurea L. In Josifović, M. (ed.), Flora SR Srbije, VII. Beograd: Srpska Akademija Nauka i Umetnosti, pp. 229–264.
Hayek A. 1928–1931. Prodromus florae peninsulae Balcanicae, 2. Band: Dicotyledoneae Sympetalae. — Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 30(2): 1152 pp. [1–96 (1928), 97–336 (1929), 337–576 (1930), 577–1152 (1931)].
Stoyanov K., Raycheva Ts. & Cheschmedzhiev I. 2021. Key to the native and foreign vascular plants in Bulgaria. Agricultural University Plovdiv Academic Press (in Bulgarian).
