Carlina acaulis
Stemless carline thistle
Carlina acaulis, commonly known as the stemless carline thistle, is a resilient perennial native to European mountain ranges. Distinguished by its lack of a visible stem and striking, thistle-like flower heads, this medicinal plant has historically been utilized in traditional herbalism for its various therapeutic and restorative properties.
- Scientific name: Carlina acaulis
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Carlina, with the species name acaulis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Carlina | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Carlina acaulis, is recognized by several distinct common names across different languages. In German, it is referred to as the Silberdistel, while in Czech, it is called the Pupava bezlodyžná. The Esperanto name for this species is Sentiga arĝentokardo, and in Basque, it is known as Eguzki-lore. Finally, in Finnish, the plant is commonly called hopeakurho.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Silberdistel | Wikidata |
| cs | Pupava bezlodyžná | Wikidata |
| eo | Sentiga arĝentokardo | Wikidata |
| eu | Eguzki-lore | Wikidata |
| fi | hopeakurho | Wikidata |
| fr | Carline acaule | Wikidata |
| frp | Èchardôn | Wikidata |
| hu | Szártalan bábakalács | Wikidata |
| lt | Bestiebė karlina | Wikidata |
| nl | Zilverdistel | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Carlina acaulis, exhibits a specific geographical distribution primarily concentrated within the regions of Middle Europe. It can be found growing across the diverse landscapes of Austria and Germany. Its presence extends through the territories of Czechia and Slovakia as well. Additionally, the species is documented within the borders of Hungary. Finally, its natural range includes various habitats throughout Poland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Bulgaria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as carline thistle, relies heavily on its specialized underground structures for survival and medicinal potency. The primary focus of its therapeutic application lies within the roots, which are characterized by a thick, sturdy, and often branched architecture. These roots serve as the plant's main storage organ, concentrating the bioactive compounds that are frequently harvested for traditional healing purposes. Because the plant is acaulescent, meaning it lacks a visible stem above ground, the development and strength of the root system are essential to its overall vitality and its ability to support the large, flowering heads that emerge directly from the base.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Carlina acaulis has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include carlina oxide, Carlina oxide, chlorogenic acid, fatty acids, flavonoids.
- Total chemicals
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| carlina oxide | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Carlina oxide | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatty acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inulin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neochlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Carlina acaulis has 5 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Diuretic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Carlina acaulis has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include African trypanosomiasis, diuretic, oxidative stress, skin diseases.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| African trypanosomiasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| skin diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |