Centaurea stoebe

Centaurea stoebe is a species of Centaurea found in Northern Italy. It is also an invasive species in the United States, and particularly widespread in dryer regions of the Pacific Northwest. This species along with Centaurea diffusa are the stereotypical 'tumbleweed' of the West- breaking off at the top of the roots which facilitates its seeds spreading far and wide, but arean't actually native to the North American continent, but to a similar dry climate in the Mediterranean.