Practical
Plants

Carlina acaulis

Stemless Carline Thistle

a biennial or perennial member of the Carlina genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Carlina
Life cycle
biennial, perennial
Height
0.15 m
Spread
0.25 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Lepidoptera, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Flowering head - cooked. Used as a globe artichoke substitute[6][7], though they are considerably smaller and even more fiddly[K]. The fleshy centre of the plant is edible[15][2]. Does this refer to the peeled stem?[K]. Root[4]. No more details are given.

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Stemless carline thistle is seldom used in modern herbalism. The plant was at one time in great demand as an aphrodisiac[15], it is occasionally used nowadays in the treatment of spasms of the digestive tract, gall bladder and liver disorders, dropsy, urine retention etc[16][13]. The root has also been used in treating a range of skin complaints such as acne and eczema[13]. A decoction of the root can be used externally to cleanse wounds or as an antiseptic gargle[13]. Some caution should be employed since in large doses the root is purgative and emetic[13]. The root is antibiotic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, mildly diuretic, emetic in large doses, febrifuge and purgative in large doses[15][16][11][14]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[15].

Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Purgative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried flowers respond to the amount of humidity in the air and can be used as hygrometers[1]. Flowers on the growing plant close at the approach of rain[13].

Product or use
Weather forecasting

Environment

Range
Europe.
Habitat
Poor soils in dry sandy pastures and on rocky slopes[15][11][1], especially on limestone[16].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow in a cold frame in the spring. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 8 weeks at 15°c[5]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a sunny position in ordinary garden soil[3]. Prefers a neutral to alkaline soil[5][12]. Prefers a poor soil[10]. Established plants are drought tolerant[9]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[8]. The stemless carline thistle is a protected plant in the wild because of its rarity[15]. This species resents root disturbance, it should be planted into its final position as soon as possible[5]. Plants are usually short-lived or monocarpic[8]. The plant is popular in dried flower arranging, the dried heads keeping their appearance indefinitely[15].

References

  1. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  5. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  9. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

  13. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  14. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  15. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  16. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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