Dipsacus L. – Monograph

Dipsacus L. – Genus   Order: Caprifoliaceae Juss. (APG IV, POWO) / Dipsacales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl (Cronquist, Acta/Dryades)Family: Dipsacaceae Juss.Tribe: Dipsaceae   Botanical notes The Dipsacus L. (1753) genus is native to to Europe, Asia and parts of Africa but it is now naturalized also in North and South America, Tasmania and New Zealand. All Dipsacus species are …

The forgotten healer: teasel

In the past, teasel (Dipsacus fullonum L.) was a greatly esteemed plant, while nowadays it is quite completely forgotten. Since the Ancient Egyptians times, its infructescences were used in wool carding. Unlike plastic and steel tools, the teasel allows a “finer” processing of the wool and prevents its fibers being broken. Human selection over the centuries, aimed at obtaining more …