Dwarf Thistle
Dwarf Thistle, Powerstock Common,
Dorset
Flowerhead
Flowerhead from side
Fruiting head
Short stem, flower buds
Rosette of basal leaves
Close-up of leaves
Cirsium acaule
Stemless Thistle
Asteraceae
June (late) to September
It is found mainly in the South, the Southeast, the East
Midlands and East Anglia.
See the BSBI distribution map for Dwarf Thistle
It grows on lightly grazed chalk grassland and limestone
turf.
Dwarf Thistle is a native, rosette-forming, perennial herb,
growing up to 20cm.
Flowers are purple.
Leaves are spiny, shiny on both sides and in a prostrate
rosette.
At first sight, there is no obvious stem, however, as
shown here,
there is a short stem with flower buds in the axils
of the leaves.
Previous page: Dotted Loosestrife
Next page: Dyer's Greenweed
Dwarf Thistle, Powerstock Common,
Dorset
Flowerhead
Flowerhead from side
Fruiting head
Short stem, flower buds
Rosette of basal leaves
Close-up of leaves
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