Carlina acaulis

Carline Thistle, Stemless carline thistle, Dwarf carline thistle, Silver thistle

Message of the Flower

Incorruptible Faithfulness

The Mother’s Comment

Nothing can turn you from the duty you have chosen.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

This is faithfulness, to admit and to manifest no other movements but only the movements prompted and guided by the Divine.

The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Faithfulness

When I spoke of being faithful to the light of the soul and the divine Call, I was not referring to anything in the past or to any lapse on your part. I was simply suggesting the great need in all crises and attacks,—to refuse to listen to any suggestions, impulses, lures and to oppose to them all the call of the Truth, the imperative beckoning of the Light. In all doubt and depression, to say "I belong to the Divine, I cannot fail"; to all suggestions of impurity and unfitness, to reply "I am a child of Immortality chosen by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother; I have but to be true to myself and to them—the victory is sure; even if I fell, I would be sure to rise again"; to all impulsions to depart and serve some other ideal, to reply "This is the greatest, this is the Truth, this alone can satisfy the soul within me; I will endure through all tests and tribulations to the very end of the divine journey." This is what I mean by faithfulness to the Light and the Call.

Sri Aurobindo, The Mother with Letters on The Mother: Faithfulness to the Light and the Call

Colour

White or reddish

Family

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Large, can reach up to 15 cm in diameter

Flower Texture

Dry, bristly

Number of Petals

Composed of multiple florets, each having small petals typical of the family Asteraceae

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

Not specifically noted for fragrance

Leaf Texture

Spiny, leathery

Leaf Arrangement

Basal rosette

Leaf Color

Green with silvery overlay

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous perennial

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Late summer to early autumn

Climate

Prefers alpine and subalpine climates

Water Requirements

Low, drought-tolerant once established

Soil Type

Well-drained, prefers calcareous soils

Temperature Ranges

Hardy in cooler temperatures, not suited for very warm climates

Sun or Shade

Prefers full sun

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Generally resilient but can be affected by root rot in poorly drained soils

Pollinators

Attracts bees and butterflies

Habitat

Native to mountainous regions of Europe, found in grasslands and rocky places

Role in the Ecosystem

Supports pollinators; acts as a pioneer species in deteriorating soil conditions

Quotations

None specifically noted

Ornamental

Valued in rock gardens for its unique floral display and foliage

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Sometimes used in decorative displays in gardens

Endangered Status

Not globally endangered but considered rare in parts of its range