# fuller's teasel

*Dipsacus sativus*

The dried flower heads were historically used in textile manufacturing to 'tease' or raise the nap on woolen cloth because their hooks are stronger and more flexible than metal wires.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Dipsacales › Caprifoliaceae › Dipsacus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Disturbed soils, roadsides, pastures, and open fields with full sun.
- **Diet:** Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
- **Range:** Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, North America (Naturalized)
- **Size:** 1 to 2.5 meters in height
- **Lifespan:** 2 years (Biennial)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Herbicides and land development, though it is often considered a hardy weed in many regions.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless but physically defensive. The stems and seed heads are covered in sharp, recurved prickles that can easily puncture skin or snag clothing. Wear thick gloves if handling and keep a safe distance to avoid scratches. If scratched, wash the area with soap and water.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/3243ceaf-9ed1-4f2d-99fe-1d9982c5727e
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/53028

- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/251787379/medium.jpeg (Alan Rockefeller, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.