Dipsacus

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Campanulids
Ordo: Dipsacales

Familia: Caprifoliaceae
Subfamilia: Dipsacoideae
Tribus: Dipsaceae
Genus: Dipsacus
Sectiones: D. sect. Dipsacus – D. sect. Sphaerodipsacus
Species: D. asper – D. atratus – D. atropurpureus – D. azureus – D. cephalarioides – D. comosus – D. ferox – D. gmelinii – D. inermis – D. japonicus – D. laciniatus – D. leschenaultii – D. pilosus – D. pinnatifidus – D. sativus – D. strigosus – D. sylvestris – D. valsecchii – D. walkeri
Source(s) of checklist:

Hassler, M. 2019. Dipsacus. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2019. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Aug. 21. Reference page.

Name

Dipsacus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 97 (1753).

Type species: D. fullonum L.

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Acaenops Schrad. ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot. ed. 2, 1: 9 (1840).
Type species: A. vulgaris Schrad. ex Steud.
Dipsacella Opiz in Bercht. & Opiz, Okon.-techn. Fl. Bohm. 2(1): 198 (1838).
Type species: D. setigera Opiz
Galedragon Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 475 (1821).
Type species: G. pilosus (L.) Gray
Simenia Szabó, Math. Termeszettud. Értes. 59: 404 (1940).
Trichocephalum Schur, Enum. Pl. Transsilv.: 293 (1866).
Virga Hill, Veg. Syst. 5: 12 (1763).
Type species: V. pilosa (L.) Hill

References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus I: 97. Reference page.

Links

Hassler, M. 2019. Dipsacus. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2019. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Aug. 21. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Dipsacus in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Aug. 21. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Dipsacus. Published online. Accessed: Aug. 21 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Dipsacus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Aug. 21.

Vernacular names
العربية: ممشقة
azərbaycanca: Fırçaotu
беларуская: Варсянка
català: Cardó
čeština: štětka
dansk: Kartebolle
Deutsch: Karden
English: Teasel
Esperanto: Kardilo
فارسی: خواجه‌باشی
suomi: Karstaohdakkeet
Gaeilge: Leadán
hornjoserbsce: Drapalc
հայերեն: Ակքան, սանրափուշ, հովվի սանր
日本語: 鍋菜属, ナベナ属
ქართული: გოქშო
қазақша: Қожакендір
kurdî: Strîpor
lietuvių: karšulis
македонски: Чешлика
Nederlands: Kaardebol
polski: Szczeć
русский: Ворсянка
slovenčina: štetka
svenska: Kardväddsläktet
українська: Черсак
oʻzbekcha/ўзбекча: Toʻngʻiztaroq
中文: 川续断属

Dipsacus is a genus of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae.[1] The members of this genus are known as teasel, teazel or teazle. The genus includes about 15 species of tall herbaceous biennial plants (rarely short-lived perennial plants) growing to 1–2.5 metres (3.3–8.2 ft) tall. Dipsacus species are native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa.

Etymology

The genus name (Dipsacus) is derived from the Greek word for thirst (dipsa) and refers to the cup-like formation made where sessile leaves merge at the stem.[2][3]

The name teasel derives from words such as Old English tǣsl, tǣsel; relating to the verb "to tease" – the dried heads of the plant were once used in the textile industry to raise the nap on woolen cloth.[4]
Description

Teasels are easily identified with their prickly stem and leaves, and the inflorescence of purple, dark pink, lavender or white flowers that form a head on the end of the stem(s). The inflorescence is ovoid, 4–10 centimetres (1.6–3.9 in) long and 3–5 centimetres (1.2–2.0 in) broad, with a basal whorl of spiny bracts. The first flowers begin opening in a belt around the middle of the spherical or oval flowerhead, and then open sequentially toward the top and bottom, forming two narrow belts as the flowering progresses. The dried head persists afterwards, with the small (4–6 millimetres (0.16–0.24 in)) seeds maturing in mid autumn. In rainy weather, some seeds may germinate when still in the seedhead (vivipary).
Seedhead of Dipsacus fullonum (common teasel) showing seeds germinating while still in seedhead (vivipary).
Carnivory

Rain water can collect in the cup-like receptacles that form where sessile leaves join the stem; this structure may perform the function of preventing sap-sucking insects such as aphids from climbing the stem. Carnivory in teasels was discussed by Francis Darwin (son of Charles Darwin) in a paper held by the Royal Society.[5][6] Contemporary attempts to replicate Darwin's experiments on the common teasel continue to fuel debate over whether or not Dipsacus is truly carnivorous. A 2011 study revealed increased seed production (but not height) dependent on both amount and nature of introduced animal supplementation, while 2019 experiments suggested that the increased seed set was a response to poor soil conditions rather than proof of proto-carnivory.[7][8] The leaf shape is lanceolate, 20–40 centimetres (7.9–15.7 in) long and 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) broad, with a row of small spines on the underside of the midrib.
As food

The seeds are an important winter food resource for some birds, notably the European goldfinch. Teasels are often grown in gardens and encouraged on some nature reserves to attract them.[9]
As an invasive species
A stand of cut-leaved teasel

Teasel is considered an invasive species in the United States. It is known to form a monoculture, capable of crowding out all native plant species, and therefore is discouraged or eliminated within restored open lands and other conservation areas.[10][11][12] Two moths useful for biological control were tested in Slovakia in 2003–2004, including the monophagous Endothenia gentianaeana, but the USDA has not approved either of them for introduction as of February 2018. Instead, the USDA continues to suggest the use of herbicidal chemicals.[13]
Species

Selected Dipsacus species:

Dipsacus ferox – spiny teasel
Dipsacus fullonum – wild teasel, common teasel, fuller's teasel
Dipsacus japonica – Japanese teasel, Chinese teasel
Dipsacus laciniatus – cut-leaved teasel
Dipsacus pilosus – small teasel
Dipsacus sativus – fuller's teasel (cultivated form)
Dipsacus strigosus – slim teasel
etc.

Flowerheads

Dipsacus fullonum flowerhead

Dipsacus fullonum
Dipsacus laciniatus flowerhead

Dipsacus laciniatus
Dipsacus pilosus flowerhead

Dipsacus pilosus
Dipsacus sativus flowerhead

Dipsacus sativus
Dipsacus fullonum, dried head

Wild teasel, dried head, Cayuga Heights, New York

Cultivation and uses
Teasel comb

Fuller's teasel (the cultivar group Dipsacus fullonum Sativus Group; syn. D. sativus) historically saw wide use in textile processing, providing a natural comb for cleaning, aligning and raising the nap on fabrics, particularly wool.[14] The product of the teasing process is called teased wool. It differs from the wild type in having stouter, somewhat recurved spines on the seed heads. The dried flower heads were attached to spindles, wheels, or cylinders, sometimes called teasel frames, to raise the nap on fabrics (that is, to tease the fibres).[15] By the 20th century, teasels had been largely replaced by metal cards, which can be made uniformly and do not require constant replacement as the teasel heads wear. However, some people who weave wool still prefer to use teasels for raising the nap, claiming that the result is better; in particular, if a teasel meets serious resistance in the fabric, it will break, whereas a metal tool will rip the cloth.
Dried teasel flower head, used to raise the nap on cloth

Teasels are also occasionally grown as ornamental plants, and the dried heads are used in floristry.

Teasels have been naturalised in many regions away from their native range, partly due to the import of fuller's teasel for textile processing, and partly by the seed being a contaminant mixed with crop seeds.

Common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) and cut-leaved teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus) have both been observed as invasive species in the United States. Common is more widespread, but cut-leaved is more aggressive.

Due to the chemical dipsacus saponin C, Dipsacus asper has medically significant procoagulant properties, likely due to an increase of intracellular calcium, and apoptosis of mitochondria.[16] This presents a considerable risk to the average user but may be beneficial in certain circumstances.[17]
Phytochemistry

Ethanol extracts of Dipsacus asper contain phenolic acids including caffeic acid, 2,6-dihydroxycinnamic acid, vanillic acid, 2′-O-caffeoyl-D-glucopyranoside ester, and caffeoylquinic acid, iridoid glucosides, triterpenoids oleanic acid and akebiasaponin D.[18]
References

"Dipsacus", The Plant List (version 1.1), retrieved 2014-09-19
Craig, John (1847), "Dipsacus", A New Universal Etymological and Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language: Embracing All the Terms Used in Art, Science and Literature, 1
"Dipsacus", www.merriam-webster.com
"teasel", en.oxforddictionaries.com
Schaefer, John. “Dipsacus and Drosera: Frank’s Favourite Carnivores.” Darwin Correspondence Project. November 27, 2020. https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/commentary/life-sciences/dipsacus-and-drosera-frank-s-favourite-carnivores.
Mentioned in episode of Objectivity (2016-05-31), White Gloves of Destiny (Random Researcher) - Objectivity #72, retrieved 2016-05-31
Shaw, P. J. A.; Shackleton, K. (2011). Joly, Simon (ed.). "Carnivory in the teasel Dipsacus fullonum — the effect of experimental feeding on growth and seed set". PLOS ONE. 6 (3): e17935. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...617935S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017935. PMC 3060873. PMID 21445274.
Krupa, James J., and J. Matthew Thomas. “Is the Common Teasel (Dipsacus Fullonum) Carnivorous or Was Francis Darwin Wrong?” Botany 97, no. 6 (March 22, 2019): 321–28. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2019-0008.
"Advice from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on how to attract Goldfinch to your garden with teasel". Retrieved October 16, 2011.
"Invasive Species: Plants – Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)". Retrieved October 16, 2011.
"Invasive Species – Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum subsp. sylvestris)". Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
"Common and Cut-Leaved Teasel Control". Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
Sforza, R.; Bon, M. C. (2008). Proceedings of the XII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. CAB International. pp. 216–218. ISBN 978-1-84593-506-1.
"Teasel" . The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989.
"Teasel Handles and Teasel Gigs in the Trowbridge Museum". Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
Song JS, Lim KM, Kang S, Noh JY, Kim K, Bae ON, Chung JH (May 10, 2012). "Procoagulant and prothrombotic effects of the herbal medicine, Dipsacus asper and its active ingredient, dipsacus saponin C, on human platelets". Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 10 (5): 895–906. doi:10.1111/j.1538-7836.2012.04685.x. PMID 22405282. S2CID 13255477.
UW Health. "Procoagulant Therapy for Bleeding Associated with Acquired Bleeding Disorders Adult Inpatient Clinical Practice Guideline" (PDF).
Tian, XY (2007). "On the chemical constituents of Dipsacus asper". Chem Pharm Bull. 55 (12): 1677–81. doi:10.1248/cpb.55.1677. PMID 18057739.