[3][4] The species name calcitrapa comes from the word caltrop, a type of weapon covered in sharp spikes.

The Red Star-thistle has been identified as a Priority Species by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

[10] A south Italian variety of the species is also traditionally consumed by ethnic Albanians (Arbëreshë people) in the Vulture area (southern Italy).

In the Arbëreshë communities in Lucania the young whorls of Centaurea calcitrapa are boiled and fried in mixtures with other weedy non cultivated greens.

[13] Picloram + 2,4-D, low volatile ester 2,4-D, Dicamba, and Fluroxypyr + Aminopyralid all carry a "moderate" risk of producing resistance in C.