The common name Mullein comes from the Latin " mollis", meaning "soft". Names: The genus Verbascum is from, and a corruption of, the Latin name for the plant, Barbascum and the species thapsus is probably after Thapsus in ancient Africa. It has a taproot and spreads by reseeding. Roadcuts and roadsides and under used pastures are common places to see it. Habitat: Mullein grows in disturbed areas in all kinds of soils, mesic to dry conditions, but with full sun. Subspecies: There are 3 world wide, but only one in North America - subsp. ![]() Seeds remain viable for years if not decades. Seeds can be shaken or blown out of the capsule by the wind. These capsules can remain on the plant over winter. Seed: Fertile flowers produce a two-celled ovoid hairy capsule, 7 to 10 mm long, that contains 100+ 4-angled ridged small seeds. The female parts mature first, but if a bee does not pollinate the flower before it closes for the day, it is capable of self-pollination. There are some fine yellow or whitish hair at the base of the style and on the 3 upper filaments, the lower placed two being glabrous. ![]() The 2-locular ovary and style are green with a knob-like head on the style. The five stamens have yellow filaments, orange anthers and alternate with the corolla lobes two of the five stamens are slightly longer than the others these are placed lower in the calyx with the 3 shorter stamens above, the arrangement such that all 5 anthers are at about equal level in the corolla throat. The yellow corolla lobes are rounded and spreading and can be up to an inch across. The spike is densely hairy.įlowers: The 5-part flowers appear to open from the bottom upward in several spiral rows, in fact, each flower is only open for one day, then the one above opens. Occasionally additional flower spikes may develop from the upper leaf axils. The inflorescence is a densely packed spike at the top of the stem above the leaves. The leaves spiral up the stem such that the shorter upper leaves shed water onto subsequent lower leaves - all to direct the water to the roots. The lower leaves will be more ovate than oblong. The uppers are stalkless, the lower leaves stalked. Leaves taper in size in a gradual arrangement until the inflorescence is reached. The alternate, oblong leaves are quite soft (velvety) and the lower ones up to 12 inches long, rarely with any teeth. It doesn't help its reputation that it is a coarse plant, with woolly stems and leaves. ![]() The tall erect stem, up to 6 or 8 feet high, is hard to miss and the prior season stem will persist well into the summer as the stems are very rigid. If the rosette is not formed early in the growing season, the young plant may not survive the winter. It is biennial and grows from a basal rosette that sends up the flower spike the second year. The plant tends to show up all over as it is most happy to colonize roadsides and disturbed soil where a grouping of plants can make a stately impression. It is doubtful that anyone actually plants it in their garden but hopefully a few would let it grow when it shows up. Common Mullein is a non-native plant with a long distinguished history (see the Lore section at page bottom) that yet attaches scant respect.
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