Fuller's Teasel

dipsacus fullonum

from wilkipedia:

dipsacus is a genus of flowering plant in the family dipsacaceae. the members of this genus are known as teasel or teazel or teazle. the genus includes about 15 species of tall herbaceous biennial plants (rarely short-lived perennial plants) growing to 1-2.5 m tall, native to europe, asia and northern africa.
the genus name is derived from the word for thirst and refers to the cup-like formation made where sessile leaves merge at the stem. rain water can collect in this receptacle; this may perform the function of preventing sap-sucking insects such as aphids from climbing the stem. the leaf shape is lanceolate, 20-40 cm long and 3-6 cm broad, with a row of small spines on the underside of the midrib.

teasels are easily identified with their prickly stem and leaves, and the inflorescence of purple, dark pink or lavender flowers that form a head on the end of the stem(s). the inflorescence is ovoid, 4-10 cm long and 3-5 cm broad, with a basal whorl of spiny bracts. the first flowers begin opening in a belt around the middle of the spherical or oval flowerhead, and then open sequentially toward the top and bottom, forming two narrow belts as the flowering progresses. the dried head persists afterwards, with the small (4-6 mm) seeds maturing in mid autumn.

the seeds are an important winter food resource for some birds, notably the european goldfinch; teasels are often grown in gardens and encouraged on nature reserves to attract them.

the fuller's teasel was formerly widely used in textile processing, providing a natural comb for cleaning, aligning and raising the nap on fabrics, particularly wool. it differs from the wild type in having stouter, somewhat recurved spines on the seed heads. the dried flower heads were attached to spindles, wheels, or cylinders, sometimes called teasel frames, to raise the nap on fabrics (that is, to tease the fibers). by the 20th century, teasels were largely replaced by metal cards, which could be made uniform and do not require constant replacement as the teasel heads wear. however, some people who weave wool still prefer to use teasels for raising the nap, claiming that the result is better; in particular, if a teasel meets serious resistance in the fabric, it will break, whereas a metal tool would rip the cloth.

teasels are also occasionally grown as ornamental plants, and the dried heads are used in floristry.

teasels have been naturalised in many regions away from their native range, partly due to the import of fuller's teasel for textile processing, and partly by the seed being a contaminant mixed with crop seeds.

a number of medicinal properties claimed for the teasel, though not proven in medical trials:
cure of lyme disease.
antibiotic.
improved circulation.
cure for warts.
eyewash (water collected in the cup formed by sessile leaves).