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Small teasel

Small teasel ©Harry Green

Small teasel

Enw gwyddonol: Dipsacus pilosus
A prickly, tall plant, the Small teasel is closely related to the Common teasel, but has much smaller, more rounded flower heads. It prefers damp, open woodlands.

Species information

Category

Ystadegau

Height: up to 1.2m

Statws cadwraethol

Common.

Pryd i'w gweld

August to September

Ynghylch

The Small teasel is a plant of open woodlands on damp soils, usually near rivers or streams. It is closely related to its larger relation, the Common Teasel, but can be distinguished by both its size and the shape of its flower and seed heads - they are much more rounded than those of the Common Teasel.

Sut i'w hadnabod

The Small teasel has oval, long-stalked leaves. It bears whitish flowers in a globular cluster atop its branched, prickly stems. The resulting seed heads are also rounded and have long spines that surround the seeds.

Dosbarthiad

Found throughout England and Wales.

Habitats

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

The Common teasel was used for carding wool prior to spinning. However, there is no record of the Small teasel being used for a similar purpose.

Sut y gall bobl helpu

The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for the benefit of all kinds of wildlife. A mix of coppicing, scrub-cutting, ride maintenance and non-intervention all help woodland wildlife to thrive. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to surveying for woodland plants.