| Flower Petal
#
5 |
 |
|
|
| Type
|
Categories
|
Useful
Parts |
Herb |
|
|
 |
 |
Verbascum
Genus |
|
|
|
|
|
| Other Names for this Plant |
Flannel Plant, Candlewick Plant, Velvet Plant
This weedy species is a native of Eurasia
This introduced biennial plant is 2-4' tall and either unbranched or sparingly branched. The central stem is stout, ribbed, and usually glabrous beneath the inflorescence. The basal leaves of 1st-year plants form a low-growing rosette about 8-12" across. During the second year, this species bolts upward with alternate leaves along the flowering stems. They are up to 6" long and 2½" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. The leaves of these 2nd-year plants are broadly lanceolate with margins that are coarsely crenate or dentate. Sometimes the margins are slightly undulate and irregular. The lower leaves strongly clasp the stems, while the upper leaves near the inflorescence are more likely to be sessile. The upper surface of each leaf is wrinkled along the veins and hairless. The central stem and upper side stems (if any) terminate in tall spike-like racemes of flowers about ½–2' in length. The stalks of these racemes are glandular hairy. Each flower spans up to 1" across, consisting of 5 spreading petals, 5 stamens, a hairy green calyx with 5 pointed lobes, and a single pistil with a green stigma. The petals are usually white or pale yellow, and they often have purplish pink or greenish brown tints on the surface facing the calyx. The center of the flower has fine purple hairs around the stamens and the base of the petals are often some shade of purple or pink. The pedicel of each flower is about ½" long, and there is a tapering green bract of about the same length at its base. The blooming period usually occurs during the summer, and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a round capsule containing numerous seeds. The root system consists of a stout taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself
|
|
|
|
Compare Species
?
|
 |
|
Tounge Order (Mints) |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Main, Real, Two First-Leaves (Dicots) |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Real, Two First-Leaves (Dicots) |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Half Capsule Seed Division |
|
|
|
 |
|
Magnolia Division |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Seed Plants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple Spore Sub-Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Multicellular Land Plants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Cells with a Nucleus |
|
|
 |
|
Cultivation: Moth Mullein is an adaptable plant that usually grows in full sunlight, moist to dry conditions, and rather poor soil that contains gravel or clay. In dry poor soil, this plant can be rather small, while at sites with fertile soil and more moisture it can become rather large.
Propagation: This plant is easy to grow from seed and produces huge quantities of it.
Medicinal Uses: There is some evidence it may be useful as a pain-killing narcotic, but more research is needed
Other Notes: The plant repels insects, it is used indoors to repel moths and cockroaches
New England women used to pack this plant among woolen garments in summer to keep out the tiny clothes moths
The leaves of Verbascum blattaria as well as the flowers and the stalks have been used in traditional fabric dyeing. A range of possible colors can be produced by Moth mullein (also known as flannel plant, candlewick plant or velvet plant) including yellow, gold, bright yellow, moss green and dark yellow-green. Fabrics traditionally dyed with this plant include: wool, silk. (The mordants used for fixing the dye include: alum, chrome, tin.)
Moth Mullein
Flower Close up
|
Moth Mullein
Flower scape
|
Moth Mullein
Flowers
|
Moth Mullein
Leaves
|
|
| Comment:
Moth Mullein, Verbascum blattaria L. |
Page Posts:
4
|
Look for
Moth Mullein on:
|
