Teasel (Dipsacus spp. ) is a genus of plants from the Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle) family. Members of this genus are typically known as teazle or teazle.
The genus consists of around 15 species[1] of large, herbaceous biennials that reach 3.3 to 8.2 feet (1 to 2.5 meters). Dipsacus species are endemic to North Africa, Asia, and Europe. The genus name Dipsacus is a Greek word meaning thirst.
It refers to the cup-shaped formation that arises where the sessile foliage on the stem merges.
Many teasels are thick, thorny biennials with opposing leaves that converge at the base to create a rainwater retention channel around the stem.
The high, domed heads of many 4-lobed flowers rest in a crown-like circle of narrow, thorny bracts. The flowers are white, purple, lavender, or dark pink. The inflorescence is ovate, 4 to 10 centimeters (1.6 to 3.9 in) long and 3 to 5 centimeters (1.2 to 2.0 in) wide, with a basal whorl of thorny bracts.
