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Fuller's Teasel
Dipsacus is a genus of flowering plant in the family Dipsacaceae. The members of this genus are known as teasel or teazel or teazle. The genus includes about 15 species of tall herbaceous biennial plants (rarely short-lived perennial plants) growing to 1–2.5 metres (3.3–8.2 ft) tall. The genus name is derived from the word for thirst and refers to the cup-like formation made where sessile leaves merge at the stem. Rain water can collect in this receptacle; this may perform the function of preventing sap-sucking insects such as aphids from climbing the stem. A recent experiment has shown that adding dead insects to these cups increases the seedset of teasels (but not their height), implying partial carnivory.
"Dipsacus fullonum", syn. "Dipsacus sylvestris", is a species of flowering plant known by the common names Fuller's teasel and wild teasel. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa, but it is known in the Americas, southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand as an introduced species and often a noxious weed.
comments (2)
It is cold over here in Holland, though the sun is appreciated today with its rays warming up the temperature.
Fascinating little plants, these thistles, aren't they? Prickly too.
Ludo Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago
I'm obviously not Scott :)
The reason why I reply to this post is to clear things up. The confusion is partly my fault, because I didn't change the description after identifying the species last night (I could hardly keep my eyes open by that time...). Apart from the prickles, thistles and teasels don't have much in common. They belong to different families. Posted 11 years ago