Are these some kind of Thistle

gobbiner · #1 (**permalink**) 30-07-2011, 03:49 PM

The certainly look like thistles

Hedera · #2 (**permalink**) 30-07-2011, 03:53 PM

They are Wild Teasels, Dipsacus fullonem. Used to be grown for finishing woven woollen cloth in this area, to raise the surface. They are related to scabious.

gobbiner · #3 (**permalink**) 30-07-2011, 03:56 PM

[quote=Hedera;805766]They are Wild Teasels, Dipsacus fullonem. Used to be grown for finishing woven woollen cloth in this area, to raise the surface. They are related to scabious.[/QUOTE
Thank you Hedera

Ladywell · #4 (**permalink**) 30-07-2011, 05:22 PM

Goldfinches love the seeds!!

Chris Yeates · #5 (**permalink**) 30-07-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedera

They are Wild Teasels, Dipsacus fullonem. Used to be grown for finishing woven woollen cloth in this area, to raise the surface. They are related to scabious.

Oh lord Hedera

I'm chasing you round being pedantic

. . . .

Dipsacus fullonum was not (is not) the species used for finishing cloth - that is Dipsacus sativus (formerly D. fullonum ssp. sativus)

the difference is in the spines - straight (and therefore useless for fulling) in the confusingly-named fullonum but sharply curved in sativus (if you place one on the palm of your hand you can turn it sideways and the thing will still grip) we have a number of teasel frames in the museum where I work

also much used in this part of Yorkshire - see the image of The Teasel Field from George Walker's Costume of Yorkshire, 1814:
http://www.maggieblanck.com/Land/Images/GW10.jpg

the plant in the photo clearly has straight spines

Chris