Dipsacus sylvestris - Teasel
 This
tall roadside plant is easy to spot while driving past on a winter's day.
Where most of the other foliage has withered, the Teasel's strong, prickly
stem will be holding up the dried, brown, thistle-like flower spike. These
flower heads are often used in dried flower arrangements. The flowers first
appear in the middle of the spike with new blooms progressing upwards and
downwards eventually producing two bands.
Though this Old World plant has no culinary or medicinal value that I have found, they were once cultivated by European wool manufacturers. Its common name comes from the dried flower heads being placed on spindles and used to "tease" cloth. |
| Family: Teasel (Dipsacaceae)
Blooms: July though October Fruit: Seed-like Native to: Eurasia Photo Location: Top - Unkown
|
 |