Carlina acaulis subsp. acaulis

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 210

(a) Subsp. acaulis :

Usually acaulescent, rarely with a simple stem up to 15 cm. Leaves usually more or less flat, pinnatifid to pinnatisect; segments dentate to pinnatifid. Throughout the range of the species.