The Anata Knapweed (Centaurea anathoth Hali, 2015) is a biennial herb. 20-30 cm. Divaricately branched from base. Leaves: basal leaves (3-7* 6-7 cm), Cauline (belonging to or arising from a stem or axis) leaves sessile; upper leaves (4-6* 0.5-1 cm) serrulate to entire. Serrate-dentate, often spiny-toothed. Connate at base, appressed-hairy, oblong-lanceolate, entire or serrate. Upper leaves linear, entire. Petioles: of basal leaves villose, densely whitish, 6-9 cm. Petioles of middle leaves 2-3 cm. Upper leaves: very short petioles less than 1 cm. Stems: erect, densely adpressed whitish tomentose 20-25 cm high, forming tufts, slightly ascending. Branched above with 3-9 terminal spiny capitula, branches 2 to 5 cm.
Involucral bracts like Centaurea iberica: glabrous, leathery, narrowly white-membranous, ending in a strong canaliculated spine flanked at base by 2-3 pairs of spinules. Appendage: (3.1-3.5* 0.7-1.2cm). Composed of 10-14 spines. Spines of intermediate involucral bracts 3-5 mm broad at base; longest spines of the head 2-3 cm. (similar to Centaurea iberica) (Feinbrun-Dothan 2000). Rootstocks: Woody rootstocks, densely branched. Flowering: April - July. Flowers: Strong yellow flowering heads 1-2 cm in diameter, Radiant.
Centaurea anathoth Hali, 2015 was discovered, described and named by the Palestinian Botany Teacher Daoud Ibrahim Al-Hali in 2015.

20-30 cm

The Jerusalem mountain area where Centaurea anathoth lives is within the transitional phytogeographical extension that represents the intermediate area, and belongs to the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian Territories. The range of this new species is restricted to a single location and it is exposed to actual degradation due to active construction and urbanization that threat the new species habitat. Most dominate species in this area are: Inula viscose, Cardaria draba and Centaurea hyalolepis, which grow in poor sloppy soil.

The Anata Knapweed (Centaurea anathoth Hali, 2015) was identified and coordinated by GPS (31°80.831'N, 35°25.230'E) in the Village of Anata (Anathoth), NE Jerusalem (Al Quds) city, Palestine. It is suggested that Centaurea anathoth is an endemic species that should be placed under the CR (Critically Endangered) category.