teasel, a specimen

Whilst we were making our way out of Staunton,Virginia we saw a very large, rambling,abandoned building that I though looked somewhat like a Kirkbride building. A quick call to Courtney confirmed that it was not a Kirkbride building but was the old state asylum, Western State. It would have been amazing to explore but it was boarded up and and ominously surrounded by gates and signs. However, at the front gate I encountered a plant I'd never seen before, the Teasel.

I thought it was a thistle at first but  a wildflower field guide tells me it is Teasel. Mrs.M.Grieve's A Modern Herbal says an old name for it was the Fuller's Thistle. Apparently, it's sharp spiny flowerheads have been used by clothmakers tease or nap cloth.

It is an invasive, alien species but I sure did enjoy meeting it ! Below is a photo I found on a UK site with a stained glass representation of the Clothmaker's Coat of Arms on St.Olave's Church in London. Notice the prominent Teasel Flowerhead!

Comments

[Chris Farmer]

Love the teasel, and the stained glass variety too

[mama spang]

did you know ani's middle name should actually be teasel? the field where we were camping when she decided to join our family was full of them, but we thought it might be a tough name to handle...and doesn't sound quite as sassy as thistle. they dry beautifully - we have some hanging in our kitchen!

[kathleen]

i learned something new today, mama. thank you. xo