dipsace^:. 403 



XXXIX. THE TEASEL FAMILY. DIPSACE^E. 



Herbs or undershrubs, with opposite leaves, and no stipules. 

 Flowers collected into compact heads or spikes, surrounded by 

 a common involucre, with scales or hairs on the receptacle be- 

 tween the florets, as in Composites, but each floret is moreover 

 inserted in a small involucel having the appearance of an outer 

 calyx, sometimes tubular, and completely enclosing the ovary ; 

 sometimes cup-shaped at its base. Calyx combined with the 

 ovary, with an entire or toothed border ; the teeth often termi- 

 nating in stiff points or bristles. Corolla monopetalous, 4- or 

 5-lobed, and often oblique. Stamens 4, inserted in the tube; 

 the anthers free, not united as in Composites. Fruit small, dry, 

 and indehiscent, crowned by the border of the calyx, often en- 

 closed in the involucel, which assumes the form of an outer coat- 

 ing. Seed solitary, pendulous. 



A small family, spread over the temperate regions of the old world, 

 both in the northern hemisphere and in southern Africa ; at once dis- 

 tinguished from Composites by the anthers, from capitate Umbellates 

 by the opposite leaves and the monopetalous corollas. 



Scales of the receptacle between the florets prickly . . . . 1. Teasel. 

 Scales of the receptacle not prickly, or replaced by hairs . . 2. Scabious. 



I. TEASEL. DIPSACUS. 



Tall, erect biennials, either prickly or bearing very stiff hairs. Heads 

 of flowers oblong or globular ; the scales between the florets long and 

 prickly. Involucels small and angular, with a very small, thickened 

 border. Calyx with a small, cup-shaped border appearing above the 

 involucel. Corolla oblique, 4-lobed. 



A very small European and north Asiatic genus. 



Heads of flowers ovoid or cylindrical, very prickly .... 1. Common T. 

 Heads of flowers globular, very hairy, and slightly prickly . 2. Small T. 



1. Common Teasel. Dipsacus sylvestris, Linn. (Fig. 485.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1032.) 



A stout biennial, 4 or 5 feet high, with numerous prickles on the 

 stems, the midribs of the leaves, the peduncles, and involucres. Leaves 



2i 2 



