Dipsacus
(the Greek name used by Dioscorides, from dipsao, to thirst; probably in consequence of the connate leaves holding water). Teazel. ORD. Dipsaceae. Erect, pilose, or prickly, hardy biennial herbs. Flower-heads terminal, oblong-ovate or roundish. Leaves opposite, usually connate at the base, toothed or jagged. These singular plants are best suited for the wild garden, or rough parts of the flower border. They thrive in almost any ordinary garden soil, and may be easily raised from seed. There are about twelve species, the under-mentioned being only those that are worth growing. D. Fullonum (fuller's). Fuller's Teazel. fl.-heads whitish, with pale purple anthers; leaves of involucre spreading, shorter than the ovoid heads. July. l. connate at the base, oblong-lanceolate, serrated; upper ones entire. Stem prickly. h. 4ft. to 6ft. The specific name of the plant is derived from the fact that its heads are used by the fuller in dressing cloth. This is believed by some to be but a cultivated variety of D. sylvestris, differing only in the scales of the receptacle being hooked at the extremity. D. laciniatus (cut-leaved). fl.-heads, corollas whitish; anthers reddish; leaves of involucre slightly erect, stiffish, usually shorter than the ovoid head. July. l. connate at the base sinuately jagged, and the lobes sinuately toothed; downy beneath. Stem prickly. h. 3ft. to 5ft. Europe and Siberia, 1683.
D. sylvestris (wood). Common Teazel. fl.-heads pale lilac; leaves of involucre inflexed, weak, longer than the ovate-oblong heads of flowers. July. l. connate at the base, ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, toothed. Stem prickly. h. 6ft. Europe (Britain).