Stemless carline thistle, Carline thistle (Carlina acaulis ). Also dwarf carline thistle, or silver thistle, is a perennial species in the family Asteraceae, native to alpine regions of central and southern Europe. The specific name acaulis means "without a stem," from Latin caulis "stem" or "stalk")

The rhizome contains a number of essential oils, in particular the antibacterial carlina oxide The root was formerly employed in herbal medicine as a diuretic and cold remedy.

While young, the flowerhead bud can be cooked and eaten in a similar manner to the Globe artichoke, which earned it the nickname of hunter's bread.

In some cultures it was traditionally used as symbol of good fortune, fixed into the frontal door of the house. Mt Vettore, Umbria, Italy September, 2021