Carlina acaulis aka Stemless Carline Thistle

Carlina acaulis, also known as the stemless carline thistle, dwarf carline thistle, or silver thistle, is a perennial flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is native to alpine regions in central and southern Europe and has two subspecies: Carlina acaulis subsp. acaulis and Carlina acaulis subsp. simplex. The plant gets its name from its unique feature of having its flower head rest directly on a basal leaf rosette. The leaves are spiny and pinnatilobate, growing in a basal rosette that can reach up to 20 cm in diameter. The plant flowers between August and September, producing a large flowerhead of silvery-white ray florets around a central disc. The disc florets are yellow-brown in color and tubular. The flowerhead closes in wet weather to protect the pollen, which folklore holds to presage forthcoming rain. The plant prefers chalky soils and dry pastures in environments from valleys up to an altitude of 2,800 m. The rhizome of the plant contains several essential oils, including the antibacterial carlina oxide, and was traditionally used in herbal medicine as a diuretic and cold remedy. Carlina acaulis is also a rare houseplant that requires regular watering and abundant sunlight, thriving best when positioned less than 3 feet from a window. The plant is named after Charlemagne, who dreamt of an angel showing him the plant that would provide relief from the plague. The arrow he shot hit the Carlina acaulis, and its roots were distributed among the population, resulting in a decrease in the spread of the disease.