Dipsacus fullonum (wild teasel, "Oninabena")

Japanese name: オニナベナ
Scientific name: Dipsacus fullonum

[Overview]
A biennial or short-lived perennial 1.5–2 m tall.
The stem has many thin, hard prickles.
There are basal leaves and stem leaves; the basal leaves are oblanceolate, 20–40 cm long, with rounded serrations, and have withered by the flowering season.
The stem leaves are opposite and lanceolate, with bases fused together to form a cup.
The upper surface of the leaves has sparse prickles, and the veins on the underside also have curved prickles.
The leaves on the upper part of the stem are entire.
At the stem tips are ovate flower heads 4–10 cm long and 3–5 cm in diameter.
The involucre is as long as the flower head or slightly longer, slender, with curved, hard prickles.
The flowers are pale purple, rarely white, and funnel-shaped with 4 lobes; flowering begins in a band at the center of the flower head and proceeds upward and downward.
The scales of the receptacle are needle-pointed at the tip.
The fruit is an achene.

[Uses]
The dried flower heads are made into dried flowers and are also used for raising the nap of textiles.
The root is used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It also spreads readily from self-sown seed.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, fertile place that retains water well.
It grows large and therefore needs plenty of space.
Rainfall is sufficient for watering.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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