Cirsium acaule or acaulon has the English name dwarf thistle or stemless thistle.

[2] It is often found on short, calcerous grasslands.

Cirsium acaule is a perennial herb.

The leaves are a spreading rosette, spiny, 10 to 15 cm long.

The flower head is 3 to 4 cm long, the florets are red/purple.