? Common Mullein Conservation status: Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Scrophulariaceae Genus: Verbascum Species: V. thapsus
Binomial name
Verbascum thapsus L.

The Common Mullein or Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) is a dicotyledonous biennial native to Europe and Asia. Other common names are Woolly Mullein, Flannel Mullein, Shepherd's Club, and Aaron's Rod. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 672 KB) Deze foto toont de Koningskaars, ik nam deze foto op 1 juli 2005 in onze tuin. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants Adiantum pedatum (a fern... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms or Magnoliophyta) are one of the major groups of modern plants, comprising those that produce seeds in specialized reproductive organs called flowers, where the ovulary or carpel is enclosed. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class: this name is formed by replacing the termination -aceae in the name Magnoliaceae by the termination -opsida (Art 16 of the ICBN). ... Families See text The Order Lamiales is a taxon in the asterid group of dicotyledonous flowering plants. ... Genera See text. ... Species L. - moth mullein Bertol. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as , (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[1] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Young castor oil plant showing its prominent two embryonic leaves (cotyledons), that differ from the adult leaves An example of a trimerous and non-eudicot flower: Magnolia Dicotyledons or dicots are a group of flowering plants whose seed typically contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons. ... Look up Biennial in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Biennial is a term referring to a period of two years, much in the same way centennial refers to 100 years. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ...

Plant characteristics

Young plant growing wild in East Gippsland, Australia

In its first year, it produces a rosette of large, softly hairy grey-green leaves 10-50 cm long. The outer leaves are supine and, working inwards, the leaves become more and more vertical. In the spring of the second year, the strong flowering stem, 2-3 cm thick, is produced from the center and can reach heights of 1.5-2 m. The stem leaves are alternate, clasping a long part of the stem. The stem ends in a dense spike composed of yellow flowers 1.5-3.5 cm wide, opening from bottom to top. The fruit is a dry capsule, containing numerous small seeds. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 501 KB) Common Mullein - File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Common Mullein ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 501 KB) Common Mullein - File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Common Mullein ... In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. ... A stem is the above ground axis of a vascular plant. ... // The word spike The word spike can refer to: Look up spike in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Clivia miniata bears bright orange flowers. ... Fruit stall in Barcelona, Catalonia. ... A ripe red jalapeno cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ...

The flowers are visited by Megachilid bees, bumblebees, and carpenter bees for their copious yellow pollen. Subfamiles Fideliinae Megachilinae Some of the genera Anthidium Coelioxys Heriades Hoplitis Megachile Osmia Stelis The Megachilidae are a cosmopolitan family of (mostly) solitary bees that carry pollen in specialized structures called scopae located under the abdomen (rather than on the hind legs like in the honey bee). ... Families Andrenidae Apidae Colletidae Halictidae Megachilidae Melittidae Stenotritidae Bee collecting pollen Bees (Apoidea superfamily) are flying insects, closely related to wasps and ants. ... Species see text A bumblebee in flight The bumblebee (also spelled bumble bee) is a flying insect of the genus Bombus in the family Apidae. ... Genera Many Carpenter bees (Xylocopinae subfamily) are important pollinators, especially of open-faced flowers, though the larger species are also known to rob nectar by boring holes in the sides of flowers with deep corollas (thus not accomplishing pollination). ...

The seeds are consumed by some birds (such as the Goldfinch) and the leaves by various insects. It host mildews, the cucumber mosaic virus and the tarnished plant bug. Orders Many - see section below. ... Binomial name Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Goldfinch or European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis, is a small passerine bird of the finch family. ... Classes & Orders See taxonomy Insects are invertebrate animals of the Class Insecta, the largest and (on land) most widely-distributed taxon within the phylum Arthropoda. ... Mildew is a grey, mold-like growth caused by one of two different types of micro-organisms. ... Binomial name Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois, 1818) The tarnished plant bug (TPB) is one of the most serious pests of small fruits and vegetables in New England. ...

Distribution, cultivation and uses

A closeup of the flowers

An old French expression "to plant mulleins" meant "to work for nothing". The plant has nonetheless been cultivated worldwide for its medicinal properties. The flower provides green and brown tints, the latter of which was used by Romans for their hair. The fuzz on the leaves was woven into candle wicks. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1275 KB) in the series our garden File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Common Mullein Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1275 KB) in the series our garden File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Common Mullein Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... Since the NTSC color television standard is susceptible to color errors, there is a tint control on NTSC television sets, which allows the image hue to be corrected. ... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... A collection of lit candles on ornate candlesticks A close-up image of a candle showing the wick and the various regions of the flame. ...

However, the most widespread beliefs about common mullein is that burning it protected against evil spirits and demons. This belief was widespread across western Christianity and mullein was burnt during celebrations on the second Sunday of Lent in France ("Dimanche des brandons"). Evil is a term describing that which is regarded as morally bad, intrinsically corrupt, wantonly destructive, inhumane, or wicked. ... The English word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning breath. ... St. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recounted in the New Testament. ... In Western Christianity, Lent is the period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. ...

It is an introduced naturalized species in North America (17th century), Australia, Chile, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is not normally considered an invasive species, because its biennial cycle and easy direct removal (unlike Dandelions, it cannot regrow from its root) makes removal easy. It has the status of noxious weed in the states of Colorado and Hawaii, and the state of Victoria, Australia. World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... Invasive may refer to: An invasion An invasive species An invasive medical procedure This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Species See text. ... This article is about unwanted plants. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 8th 104,185 sq mi  269 837 km² 280 miles  451 km 380 miles  612 km 0. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,941 sq. ... Motto: Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Governor HE Mr John Landy Premier Steve Bracks (ALP) Area 237,629 km² (6th)  - Land 227,416 km²  - Water 10,213 km² (4. ...

Medicinal use

Mulleins are with comfrey among the oldest known medicinal plants. Flowers and leaves from the common mullein are used for their strong mucilaginous (sticky and viscous) content against all forms of throat and lung irritation. To avoid further irritation caused by the hairs, it is strongly recommended to finely filter the beverage before taking it. Leaves can also be used topically on dry skin. An oil made from mullien flowers is used for earache. Species Symphytum asperum Lepechin Symphytum officinale L. Symphytum tuberosum L. Symphytum x uplandicum Nyman Comfrey is an important herb in organic gardening, having many medicinal and fertiliser uses. ... ... Clivia miniata bears bright orange flowers. ... Mucilage is a thick gluey substance, often produced by plants. ... Anatomy In anatomy, the throat is the part of the neck anterior to the vertebral column. ... The lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. ... Young Girl Fixing her Hair, by Sophie Gengembre Anderson Hair, is a filamentous outgrowth from the skin, found only in mammals. ... The term filter may refer to: A device to separate mixtures. ... In medicine, a topical medication is applied to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes such as the vagina, nasopharynx, or the eye. ... Otalgia is ear pain or an earache. ...

The seeds contain a sapotoxin called rotenone which impedes cellular respiration and is used to intoxicate fish for fishing or population control. Saponins are glycosides of steroids, steroid alkaloids (steroids with a nitrogen function) or triterpenes found in plants, especially in the plant skins where they form a waxy protective coating. ... Rotenone (CAS number 83-79-4) is a colorless-to-red, odorless solid. ... Cellular respiration is the process in which the chemical bonds of energy-rich molecules such as glucose are converted into energy usable for life processes. ... Orders See text. ... Population control is the practice of limiting population increase, usually by reducing the birth rate. ...

Externallinks

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Verbascum thapsus

• Common Mullein in the Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide