File:Teasel - Dipsacus fullonum - geograph.org.uk - 267975.jpg

English: Teasel - Dipsacus fullonum This is the common wild teasel which grows in rough grasslands, hedgerows, thickets, road verges, waste ground – and my garden! It grows freely in areas where heavy soils have been disturbed so thrives in the Vale of Belvoir where the soil is heavy clay. The plant is tall, often reaching over 2 metres, with a deeply angled, furrowed and very spiky stem. The leaves at the base of this stem form a rosette, whereas those occurring on the stem are arranged in pairs. The tube-like flowers are purplish-rose in colour, and are protected by the spines. They are a favourite of bees and other flying insects.

The teasel is known by many different names. The first part of its scientific name ‘Dipsacus’ comes from the Greek, ‘to thirst’, describing the way rainwater collects in the reservoir at the base of leaves. This is the reason why Romans called it 'Venus's basin' and early Christians in Ireland called it ‘Mary’s basin’. The second part of its botanical name ‘fullonum’ reflects the traditional use of this plant. A fuller was someone who used teasels to comb or ‘tease’ out wool and this has led to the teasel also to be called 'brush and comb'. Another name is 'Johnny-prick-the-finger', due to its sharp spiky character and the Irish name Lus an Fhucadora translates as ‘Fuller's Herb’. The heads of the commercially grown fuller’s teasel (D. sativus) have curved spines; they are used to raise the pile, or ‘nap’ of cloth, specifically in the manufacture of cashmere and velour fabrics.

Teasel has also been used as a medicinal herb for aiding the healing of broken bones and sinews, as a liver and kidney tonic and for promoting energy and blood circulation. An ointment produced from the roots was traditionally used to cure warts.