carline thistle

/ˌkɑrˈlaɪn ˌθɪsəl/

Definitions of carline thistle

1. noun

   a thistle of the genus Carlina
   types:

   Carlina acaulis, stemless carline thistle

   stemless perennial having large flowers with white or purple-brown florets nestled in a rosette of long spiny leaves hairy beneath; of alpine regions of southern and eastern Europe

   Carlina vulgaris, common carline thistle

   Eurasian thistle growing in sand dunes and dry chalky soils

   type of:

   thistle

   any of numerous plants of the family Compositae and especially of the genera Carduus and Cirsium and Onopordum having prickly-edged leaves