214 
FLORAL EMBLEMS. 
MISANTHROPY. 
Fullers Teasel. — Dipsacus fullonum. 
“ I am misanthropos, and hate mankind.” 
Shakspeare. 
These unhappy dispositions are represented 
in floral emblems by the prickly head of the 
dipsacus, a plant so disagreeable to animals 
in general, that even the ass refuses it. The 
conical receptacle of this plant becomes the 
harbour of earwigs, as the head of a misan¬ 
thrope becomes the receptacle of terrible an¬ 
tipathies. 
The singularly rough heads of the teasel are 
useful in raising the nap upon woollen cloths, 
but the head of a misanthrope is as useless 
as an ear of blighted corn. 
“ His only scope 
Was to be held a misanthrope; 
This into gen’ral odium drew him.” 
Swift. 
