Ontario
Weeds: Common mullein
Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Stems and Roots
- Flowers and Fruit
- Habitat
- Similar Species
- Related Links
Name: Common mullein, Verbascum thapsus
L.,
Other Names: grande molène, Candelabra,
Candlesticks, Devil's-tobacco, bouillon-blanc, tabac du diable
Family: Figwort or Snapdragon Family (Scrophulariaceae)
General Description: Biennial, reproducing
only by seed.
Photos and Pictures
Common mullein. A. Rosette of basal leaves. B. Top of flowering
stem.
Stems & Roots: First-year plant
a rosette of large, gray, woolly leaves on a deep, thick taproot;
tall erect stems the second year. Stem 1-2m (3-6½ft) high,
stout, unbranched or with 1 or 2 branches near the top, somewhat winged
by edges of leaves which run down the stem below their nodes; stem
and leaves densely woolly; rosette leaves many, often 30cm (12in.)
long and 10cm (4in.) wide, oblong or broadest beyond the middle, narrowed
towards the stalk; stem leaves of similar shape but gradually smaller
upwards and changing from widest beyond the middle to widest before
the middle and without leafstalks.
Flowers & Fruit: Flowers in a very
dense, compact, elongated, thick spike; petals 5, yellow, united into
a saucer-shaped corolla 12-20mm (½-4/5in.) wide with 5 lobes.
stamens with 3 small anthers and 2 long ones; seedpods nearly spherical,
about 1cm (2/5in.) in diameter but obscured by the mass of woolly
bracts and sepals; seeds brownish, very small, about 0.7mm (1/40in.)
long. Flowers from early July to September.
Habitat: Common mullein is widespread
throughout southern Ontario but rather rare in the northern part of
the province, occurring usually in dry sandy or gravelly soils, along
roadsides, waste places and poor pastures.
Similar Species: It is distinguished by
its densely white or gray woolly leaves during the first year, almost
resembling white felt insoles, its stiffly erect stem in the second
year, tipped with yellow flowers (hence one local name, "Candelabra"),
its leaf margins continuing down the stem as narrow wings, its very
dense, thick, woolly spike with yellowish flowers and nearly spherical
seedpods and its erect, dry, brownish stalks which may remain standing
for one or two years.
Related Links
... on general Weed
topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
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