Dwarf Thistle

(Carlina acaulis L., Compositae)

Also Called: Ground Thistle.

Description: Perennial plant with blackish-brown taproot up to 20cm (8in) long and 1-2.5cm (0-4-1 in) thick.
Leaves in a rosette 5-15cm (2-6in) long, lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid with unequal divisions each of which is terminated in a stiff spine.
Capitulum 6-12cm 2.5- 4.5in) in diameter, borne singly immediately above the rosette of leaves or, rarely, on a pedunclc up to 20cm (8in) long; involucral bracts stiff, silvery-white, long, lanceolate and often regarded by the layperson as petals.
The centre of the capitulum is of numerous yellowish or white tubular florets.
Flowering: July-September.

Part Used: Dried root.

Habitat and Collection: In the Alps up to 2,800m (9,100ft) and in the Jura, in poor pastures.
The roots are dug up either in autumn or in spring, they are washed and then dried either in the shade or in sunlight.
In good mountain pastures the plant is considered as a weed and is speedily eradicated.

Constituents and Action: The root contains volatile oil and a resin. It is diuretic and antibiotic.

Usage: Only occasionally used in human medicine as a tisane (pour cold water on 1-2 tablespoonfuls of chopped drug and raise to the boil) or in powder form (take 2-4 knife-pointfuls daily in water) for retention of urine, dropsy and for bronchitis.
Dwarf thistle is used mainly in verterinary medicine to fatten cattle.