Scientific Family
Dipsacaceae
Synonyms
Dipsacus sylvestris, D. fullonum ssp. sylvestris, D. fullonum ssp. fullonum
Other common names
common teasel
teasel
wild teasel
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Introduced
Lifecycle
Biennial
Height
To 6-1/2 feet
Riparian
No
Biennial plant which produces a rosette of basal, wrinkled leaves the first year. The second year it produces long, branched stems with long narrow leaves and spiny flower heads.
Plants, 20 to 80 inches tall. Stems erect, stout, grooved, angled, prickly on the angles, becoming more so upwards. Receptacle flower bract ending in a straight, more or less flexible spine; whorl of bracts generally erect or upcurved. Flowers 4-parted.
Habitat
Roadsides, pastures, fields, grassy hillsides and moist low sites, disturbed habitats.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
0
High elevation
5800
Flower Characteristics
Flowers are to 1/16 inch wide, 1/2 inch long, clustered on thistle-like cones, surrounded by short, spiny bracts and numerous, very long, upward-pointing spiny bracts with straight tips. The cluster is up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide.
Flower color
Light purple or lavender
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Initially produces a basal rosette of wrinkled, toothed leaves. The second year, a long spiny stem produces leaves with a row of spines on each side of a white midvein. These lance-shaped leaves are up to 10 inches long, shorter near the top of the stem.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
A dry achene, containing 1 seed, 4-angled, hairy.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Light brown