Fuller's teasel

Family

Dipsacaceae

Scientific Name

Dipsacus fullonum

Other Common Names:

teasel

common teasel

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Dipsacus sylvestris

Habit

Seedlings have round to oval shaped cotyledons, and then develop a basal rosette of oval shaped leaves with toothed margins. Mature plants of the second season have angled stems with parallel lines and downward pointing spines.

Leaves

The opposite leaves are lanceolate to elliptic in shape. Basal leaves die early in the second year once the erect stem is produced. Leaves are prickly along the midrib on the underside of the leaf. The leaf margins are largely non-toothed.

Identifying Characteristics

This plant is easily recognized by spiny flower heads that remain throughout the year, which are often used in floral arrangements.

Flower Seed Head

Present during the second year of growth, flowers bloom in a spiral cluster atop long prickly stalks. Individual flowers, 10-15 mm long, are composed of tubular white petals with purple lobes, giving the head a thistle-like appearance.

Seed Fruit

Seeds develop within an angled achene roughly 3-4 mm in length. The achenes are grayish-brown with parallel ridges.

Where Found

Found throughout most of the United Stated, common teasel in often found along roadsides, low-maintenance turfgrass, and meadows. It is often found growing on damp rich soils.

Growth Habit

upright and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

present

Approximate Flower Diameter

pencil

Dominant Flower Color

Varies:

white,

purple

Flower Symmetry

not symmetrical

Leaf Hairs

no hairs

Leaf Shape

Varies:

lance,

oval

Leaf Arrangement

opposite

Leaf Margin

Varies:

lobed,

serrated

Leaf Structure

simple

Leaf Stalk

none

Stem Hairs

no hairs

Stem Cross Section

square or multi-edged

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

taproot

Life Cycle

biennial

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Herb