Teasel

Dipsacus fullonum, known affectionately as 'teasel' a biennial which has just started to colonise a bed in my back garden. It's been there for some years but I've probably been weeding out the seedlings. Anyway, it has formed 3 healthy clumps now and I'm looking forward to seeing them flower next year. In the meantime, there's just this one solitary plant, which has great architectural value. The common name is believed to have come from the usefulness of the flower spike in teasing out wool fibres prior to spinning. All that in one little flower and the bees love it too!