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dwarf thistle

Bill Martin

Dwarf thistle

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Scientific name: Cirsium acaule
As its name suggests, the Dwarf thistle is a low-growing plant that is almost stemless - its purple, thistle-like flower heads growing out of a rosette of spiny leaves.

Top facts

Category

Stats

Height: up to 15cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

June to September

About

The Dwarf thistle is a low-growing, almost stemless thistle that is mainly found on chalk grassland, particularly when it is grazed. It displays a singular, reddish-purple flower head that blooms from June to September, growing from a rosette of spiny, hairy leaves.

What to look for

The Dwarf thistle displays a purple, solitary flower head on top of a rosette of spiny, hairy leaves. It is almost stemless, and is very low-growing.

Where to find

Local distribution in England and South Wales.

Did you know?

The Dwarf thistle is also known as the Stemless Thistle because it looks like it doesn't have a stem at all; its flowers grow from a rosette of leaves, but usually have very short stems, in fact.