Photo credit: Alexander Mrkvicka, Botanik im Bild, Retrieved from flora.nhm-wien.ac.at
Brown knapweed is native to Europe and was probably introduced to North America as an ornamental species.
Brown knapweed can invade open forests, grasslands, and prairies. It can out-compete native vegetation, reducing biodiversity and available forage species.
Brown knapweed flowers are 15-25 cm wide. Bracts usually have a distinctive papery margin and are light brown in colour. The leaves are green in colour, lance-shaped or shallowly lobed, and become progressively smaller up the stem. The fruits usually don't have a plume or bristles.
Brown knapweed grows up to 150 cm tall.