Dipsacus fullonum

Teasel ( Dipsacus fullonum ) inflorescence.

The teasel ( Dipsacus fullonum L., syn. Dipsacus sylvestris Huds ) is a plant which belongs to the subfamily of the teasel family ( Dipsacoideae ). The name comes from the Greek Dipsacus dipsa for thirst: After Rain collects in the hoppers of the stem leaves the water, the birds can drink or hikers.

Description

The teasel is a biennial herbaceous plant that reaches the stature heights of up to 1.50 meters. The stems are prickly. The basal leaves are short stalked and arranged in a rosette. The stem leaves are decussate pairs grown together at the base and notched at the edge. The whole plant is covered with sharp spines.

The flowering period extends from July to August. The at a length of 5 to 8 cm ovate - oblong, cylindrical, little head -shaped buds are surrounded by prickly, different length, rounded ascending bracts. The bracts are longer than the flower. The flowers are hermaphrodite. The four purple petals are fused tubular. The flower is blue.

The crowned by the calyx fruits are skinned, seeded nuts ( achenes ).

Ecology

The teasel is a biennial half rosette plant. They are called cistern plant because the opposite, down overgrown leaves form a water reservoir ( Phytotelm ). Their function is interpreted as Aufkriechschutz against ants. Possibly, insect trapping and settling of small organisms, an additional supply of nitrogen dar.

Ecologically flowers are "basket flowers". The unfolding of the flowers starts from the middle of the inflorescence and proceeds both upwards and downwards. The flowers are vormännlich, with a 1 -cm-long narrow tube and protruding scars and anthers. The flowers are visited plenty of insects. The nectar is available to only langrüsselige bumblebees and butterflies. Also, self-pollination is successful.

It is a typical animal spreaders, because animals remain at all prickly plant parts, but especially hanging on the fruit stands. The fruits are thrown several meters from the chaff elastic sheets as well as by the setback of the whole plant. Also wind dispersal and distribution processing, for example by goldfinches, takes place. Fruit ripening is from September to October.

Ingredients and traditional medicine

The teasel contains the glycoside Scabiosid, terpenes, caffeic acid compounds, organic acids, glucosides and saponins.

In the Middle Ages preparations were used from the root of the card externally for chapped skin and warts. In folk medicine the root against jaundice and liver problems, stomach diseases, small wounds, barley grains, fistulas, skin and nail lichen ulcers is recommended. Wolf -Dieter Storl led the plant for the treatment of Lyme disease a, so far with little scientific evidence of effectiveness. Dried plants provide a water soluble dye, which was regarded as a substitute for indigo. The spiky flower heads were once used by weavers for brushing wool fabrics.

Occurrence

The teasel fuller's teasel or originates from the Mediterranean and is to be regarded in Germany as archaeophyte. This plant is in Bavaria, Baden -Württemberg, Rhineland -Palatinate, North Rhine -Westphalia, Hesse, Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony- Anhalt and southern Lower Saxony widespread. She is also scattered in northern Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg -Western Pomerania, Schleswig -Holstein and Brandenburg. In the mountains it is rare.

The teasel is to be found especially in warmer areas on flood plains, on the banks, paths, on meadows and in ruins, both in the lowlands and in the hill country between the July and October.

Gallery

Inflorescence

Inflorescence

Boy card

Cross Against Permanent stem leaves after rain

Fly larvae in the water.

Teasel ( Dipsacus fullonum ), before flowering.

Teasel in early July on the Middle Rhine.

Dry inflorescence in April