Dipsacus fullonum
Dipsacaceae
July to September
It is found throughout the country but is patchy in the
North.
See the BSBI distribution map for Wild Teasel
It grows in waste ground, rough grassland, small
woods and hedges, and by roads and paths.
Wild Teasel is a native, stiff, biennial herb, growing
up to 3m.
The small flowers are in a flowerhead (capitulum)
up to 8cm.
Each flower comprises a calex cup made up of 4
spiny sepals, a blue-purple corolla made up of
4 petal lobes.
Flowers have 2 stamens and a style with an
oblique linear stigma.
Leaves are lanceolate and prickly and fold up
to envelop the stem and flowers in spring.
Flower heads are persistent and spiny and were
in the past used for carding wool fibres.
A related species, Fullers teasel, which
has stiffer more erect spines, was the main one
used in the woollen industry.
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Wild Teasel on a brownfield site, Lancaster
Flowerheads (capitula) showing bracts
Capitulum with flowers - stamens
Close-up of flowers with paired stamens
Flowers - styles with oblique (T-shaped) stigmas
Pollination by insects
Leaves
Teasel capitulum in winter
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