Maltese Star-Thistle

"Centaurea melitensis" is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae, 1 to 11 decimetres high, with resin-dotted leaves and spine-tipped phyllaries. This plant is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Africa. It was introduced to North America in the 18th century; the first documented occurrence in California is in the adobe of a building constructed in San Fernando in 1797. It is also naturalized on a number of Pacific islands.