The Economic Times

In the 1700s, European teasel reached America, including a type used to finish cloth; today it grows in 43 of 48 lower states, and one plant can make 2,000+ seeds

Introduced to North America in the 1700s for its valuable role in the textile industry, teasel quickly outgrew its intended purpose, becoming an invasive plant across multiple states. Each teasel can release over two thousand seeds, contributing to its rapid spread in environments affected by human activity. This scenario highlights how beneficial plants can inadvertently turn into troublesome weeds when their functional role is abandoned.