Almost The Full Set

Nick Millar has just let me know of an interesting new find. He has spotted Yellow-flowered Teasel (Dipsacus strigosus) growing on the road verge of Harrison Way, St Ives (VC31). With this find we almost have the full set of this genus, barring a couple of obscure hybrids.

Yellow-flowered teasel is similar to the native Small Teasel (Dipsacus pilosus) but can be distinguished as follows (text and photo taken from the Manual of the Alien Plants of Belgium website).

Dipsacus strigosus	Dipsacus pilosus
Corolla pale yellow	Corolla white
Anthers pale yellow or greenish (not contrasting with corolla)	Anthers dark purplish to blackish (much contrasting with corolla)
Flower head ca. 30-40 mm across	Flower head ca. 15-25 mm across
Receptacular scales distinctly longer than corolla, long attentuate and glabrous at apex	Receptacular scales hardly longer than corolla, abruptly narrowed and ciliate towards apex