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Carlina acaulis - L.

Common Name Stemless Carline Thistle
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Poor soils in dry sandy pastures and on rocky slopes[7, 21, 100], especially on limestone[9].
Range Europe.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Carlina acaulis Stemless Carline Thistle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carlina_acaulis_Sturm17.jpg
Carlina acaulis Stemless Carline Thistle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:BerndH

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Carlina acaulis is a BIENNIAL/PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Root  Stem
Edible Uses:

Flowering head - cooked. Used as a globe artichoke substitute[177, 183], though they are considerably smaller and even more fiddly[K]. The fleshy centre of the plant is edible[7, 105]. Does this refer to the peeled stem?[K]. Root[13]. No more details are given.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic  Carminative  Diaphoretic  Digestive  Diuretic  Eczema  Emetic  Febrifuge  
Purgative

Stemless carline thistle is seldom used in modern herbalism. The plant was at one time in great demand as an aphrodisiac[7], it is occasionally used nowadays in the treatment of spasms of the digestive tract, gall bladder and liver disorders, dropsy, urine retention etc[9, 268]. The root has also been used in treating a range of skin complaints such as acne and eczema[268]. A decoction of the root can be used externally to cleanse wounds or as an antiseptic gargle[268]. Some caution should be employed since in large doses the root is purgative and emetic[268]. The root is antibiotic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, mildly diuretic, emetic in large doses, febrifuge and purgative in large doses[7, 9, 21, 46]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[7].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Weather forecasting

The dried flowers respond to the amount of humidity in the air and can be used as hygrometers[100]. Flowers on the growing plant close at the approach of rain[268].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a sunny position in ordinary garden soil[111]. Prefers a neutral to alkaline soil[138, 238]. Prefers a poor soil[200]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187]. The stemless carline thistle is a protected plant in the wild because of its rarity[7]. This species resents root disturbance, it should be planted into its final position as soon as possible[138]. Plants are usually short-lived or monocarpic[187]. The plant is popular in dried flower arranging, the dried heads keeping their appearance indefinitely[7].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a cold frame in the spring. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 8 weeks at 15°c[138]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Carlina acanthifolia Perennial0.6 4-8  LMHNDM10 
Carlina vulgarisCarline ThistleBiennial0.5 5-9  LMHNDM111

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

100200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Ralf   Thu Apr 24 14:14:09 2003

Another web reference with lots of information on edible uses.

Link: Silberdistel

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