Cirsium esculentum (Siev.) C. A. Mey. (= Cirsium acaule Scop.) - grows in steppes and pastures in the northern Eurasia. It has two forms: with stems (var. caulescens) and stemless (var. acaulis), as shown here.

A stony steppen southern sloppe on the Dzhazator River right bank in its upper flow, between the Chikty and Akbul River, 2000 m above sea level, Kosh-Agach District, Altai Republic, West Siberia, Russia. 19th July 1998 O. Kosterin