Stemless carline thistle

About

The Stemless carline thistle is one of the most characteristic plants of the mountain meadows of Europe: from the Pyrenees and the Alps to the Balkans and the Carpathians. In the Ukrainian Carpathians, it can be found in the Beskids, Gorgany, on Świdowiec, Chornohora, in the Chivchyny, Hrynyavsky mountains, and the Maramureș massif. It grows in dry meadows, rocky slopes, and forest clearings in the forest and subalpine zones, at altitudes of approximately 500–1500 m.

The plant has almost no stem: a large flower head up to 10 cm in diameter sits directly in the center of a ground rosette about 20 cm wide. The leaves are deeply pinnatifid, with spines. What appears to be petals are actually the inner bracts, shiny, silvery or yellowish-white, and in the center of the flower head are small tubular flowers of a brownish-yellow color. It blooms from July to September.

The silvery 'petals' respond to humidity: in humid weather and before rain, the flower head closes, protecting the pollen, while in dry sunny weather, it opens. Therefore, the Stemless carline thistle is often called a natural barometer: it can predict whether it will rain.

The Stemless carline thistle is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, although two other species of the genus, the spiny carline thistle and the thistle-leaved carline, are included. In Poland, it is partially protected. However, the root of the plant has long been harvested, and without the root, the rosette dies, so it is better to admire and photograph the Stemless carline thistle along the route, especially in reserves and national parks where picking plants is prohibited.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Czechia · Poland · Ukraine · Romania · Hungary · Austria

Mountain ranges

Greater Fatra, Lesser Fatra, Strážov Mountains, Low Tatras, Slovak Ore Mountains, Kysuce Beskids, White Carpathians, Slovak Central Mountains, Slovak Paradise, Volovec Mountains

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

The leaves are spiny — do not touch the rosette with bare hands.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine; partially protected in Poland. In reserves and protected areas of national parks, picking plants is prohibited — better to admire them.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ