Cirsium acaule

{{short description|Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae}}

{{speciesbox

|image = Cirsium acaule - varretu karuohakas Keilas.jpg

|image_caption = Cirsium acaule/acaulon (Dwarf Thistle)

|genus = Cirsium

|species = acaule

|authority =(L.) A.A.Weber ex Wigg. 1780 not Scop. 1780 nor Ledeb. 1833

|synonyms_ref = [http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-31417 The Plant List, Cirsium acaule (L.) A.A.Weber ex Wigg]

|synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true

|title=Synonymy

|Carduus acaulis L.

|Carduus caulescens Pers. ex Steud.

|Carduus gmelini Steud.

|Carduus rosenii Vill.

|Carduus spinosus Gueldenst. ex Ledeb.

|Cirsium allionii Spenn.

|Cirsium alpestre Nägeli

|Cirsium bipontinum F.W.Schultz

|Cirsium consanguineum DC.

|Cirsium decipiens Nyman

|Cirsium decoloratum W.D.J.Koch

|Cirsium exigium Bubani

|Cirsium fallax Franch.

|Cirsium lachenalii W.D.J.Koch

|Cirsium rosenii Vill.

|Cirsium sorocephalum DC.

|Cnicus affghanicus C.Winkl. ex Petr.

}}}}

Cirsium acaule or acaulon has the English name dwarf thistle or stemless thistle. It is widespread across much of Europe.[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=cirsium+acaule Altervista Flora Italiana, Cardo nano, Cirsium acaule] includes photos and European distribution map It is often found on short, calcerous grasslands.