Notes For Reference:

Species, Varieties, or Forms in the Genus Dipsacus:

Dispacus japonicus / Nabena

Dipsacus japonicus / Nabena ナベナ

Dipsacus japonicus is a biennial herb found in sunny, damp grasslands; its stems reach over 1 meter in height and branch well, with stiff, spiny structures along their length. Leaves are of alternate phyllotaxis, and each is pinnately cleft deeply into segments to the bases. The pieces are sharp-pointed at their tips, and the margins are serrated. Many light red-purple florets gather to form a ball-like flower head. About 2cm across, the flower head has 5-20mm-long involucral bracts, which curve backward when standing in a row. The corolla is cylindrical and cleft into four segments at the top. The stamens, four in number, are located above the corolla. Bloom time: August-September.