The dried heads of teasels (Dipsacus) have always fascinated me ever since I learned the origin of their name. It derives from the Old English "taesel" meaning to "tease". That isn't tease in the sense of "to poke fun". Here the derivation is from "to tease" meaning "to separate or pull apart". The dried, autumnal heads with their spikes and hooks were used in the textile industry to raise the nap on woollen cloth to make it feel softer and warmer.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
