Plants in the dipsacaceae (teasel) family are characterised by opposite stem leaves and dense, terminal flower clusters, subtended by whorled bracts, resembling some of those in the asteraceae family. Individual flowers have a small, often tubular corolla, with exserted stamens (two or four), and a short calyx divided into bristle-like lobes. There are five UK species - two types of teasel and three varieties of scabious.
