Summary

Overview
Teasel is a large imposing plant with large flower heads, large leaves, and covered in spines.
The name dipsacus is derived from a thirst for water referring to cup-like formations at the base of the leaves, where they join the stem and rain water collects.
Teasel is used as a traditional herbal remedy in China for tendon injuries, muscle pain, inflamation, chronic arthritus, Lyme disease, ME and fibromyalgia but I am yet to find any scientific evidence to support this and potentially evidence to the contrary. (see resources section below).

Bushcraft
The base of the leaves where they join the plant collect rain water. Potential medical uses but lacks scientific backing.

General Info

Gallery and Identification

Stem - Up to 2.5m tall. Covered in spines
Leaves - lanceolate (shaped like the head of a lance). Up to 40cm long and 6cm wide. The midrib has spines on its underside.
Reproductive Parts - Pinky-purple in egg shapped heads. Up to 8cm long.
Distribution - Found in damp, disturbed grassland.

Resources

• Clean Water - collected by bending the plant to pour the rain watter collected at the base of the leaves.
• Comb - a dried teasel flower head can be used for processing fibres such as wool. Or to make you look dapper.
• Medicinal? - Although this plant is used medicinally and there are books (I have one in front of me) that suggest this is ok for consumption there have been medical studies indicating potential dangers of consuming Teasle such as this one on PubMed.gov. (The chemical dipsacus saponin C is found in Teasel, which this article is refering to).