202 - The teasel was once widely used in textile processing, providing a natural comb for cleaning, aligning and raising the nap on fabrics, particularly wool. The dried flower heads were attached to spindles, wheels, or cylinders, sometimes called teasel frames, to raise the nap on fabrics (that is, to tease the fibres).
By the 20th century, teasels were largely replaced by metal cards, which could be made uniform and do not require constant replacement as the teasel heads wear. However, some people who weave wool still prefer to use teasels for raising the nap, claiming that the result is better; in particular, if a teasel meets serious resistance in the fabric, it will break, whereas a metal tool would rip the cloth.
A number of medicinal properties are claimed for the teasel, though not proven in medical trials:
Cure of Lyme disease;
Antibiotic;
Improved circulation;
Cure for warts.
Nice macro one, maybe more contrast would make the plant more detalied
Thank you Junan - the light was ideal for this kind of shot!
Thank you Bob - not sure what the small ones are called, but we have quite a lot near the river here.
Thank you Jen - glad you like it!
Thank you Helen - the lighting was ideal for this kind of shot!
Thank you Brian - before they reach this stage they have purple blue flowers, but I never got a shot at that stage. Perhaps next year?
Thank you Pyrrhula - the lighting was ideal for this kind of shot!
Thank you Lizzy, glad you like it!
Thank you Ruth - I love the structure of these teasels!
Thank you Sarah, glad you like it!
Thank you Petaqui. I did experiment a bit with contrast, but I preferred the lighting in this version.
Thank you Pamela, glad you like it!
Thank you Kristin - they do have a fascinating structure!
Thank you Roslyn - I was quite pleased with it in the late afternoon light!