Cutleaf Teasel
(Dipsacus laciniatus L.)
Dipsacaceae (Teasel Family)
▲ seedlings
▲▼ young cutleaf teasel-- leaves have toothed margins similar to common teasel, but lack spiny bumps on top leaf surfaces
▲ young plant just before bolting showing deeper lobing ("cutleaf" appearance) on leaves
▲field of flowering cutleaf teasel
▲deeply lobed, opposite leaves on spiny stems of mature plant
▲ cutleaf teasel inflorescences with white flowers
▲ dried inflorescences persist on dead plants
Cutleaf Teasel:
a biennial weed from Europe with spiny stems and leaves that grows 2-9 feet tall
leaves opposite, deeply lobed, clasping the stems
flowers white in densely arranged in spiny, ovoid heads at the top of the plants
inflorescence used in dried floral arrangements and had been used to comb wool and raise the nap on woven cloths
can distinguish from common teasel by the lack of deep indentations on common teasel leaves, plus tiny flowers are purplish on common teasel