Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Carduus acaulos in Species Plantarum, 1st edition, p. 1199.
today: The current name for this species is Cirsium acaule (L.) Scop. ssp. acaule
original Latin diagnosis
Carduus acaulis, calyce glabro.
English translation
Carduu stemless; [and] with a calyx glabrous.
English translation with commentary
| Carduus | Carduus |
| stemless; | acaulis - nominative singular masculine of group B adjective acaulis, -is, -e; modifies Carduus |
| [and] | [added for smoother reading] |
| with a calyx | calyce - ablative singular of third declension masculine noun calyx, calycis |
| glabrous. | glabro - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective glaber, glabra, glabrum; modifies calyce |