Dipsacus fullonum

Botanical Description

Dipsacus fullonum is an erect, prickly biennial to short-lived perennial plant growing from a taproot. It produces a large basal rosette of leaves and a flowering stem up to 180cm tall[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. Dipsacus fullonum has been introduced to North and South America, Australia and New Zealand. Although mainly a weed of pastures and roadsides, it sometimes also grows in natural communities and forms a large basal rosette of leaves in the early stages of growth. This rosette can cover a large area and shade other ground-dwelling plants nearby. The plant is said to have spread rapidly throughout the United States except in the northern Great Plains, and it has been classified as a noxious weed in Colorado, Iowa, Missouri and New Mexico[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]