[ 1226 ] 



Verbascum Cupreum. Copper-Flowered 



Mullein, 



CAt/} atfi Order. 

 Pentandria Monogynia* 



Generic CbaracJer. 

 Cor. rotata, fubinsequalis. Cap/. 2-Iocularis, 2-vaIvis. 



Specific Character. 



VERBASCUM cupreum; caulibus virgatis fimplicibus, fofttt 

 cordato-ovatis rugofis crenatis fubtus lanatis, 

 pedunculis unibra&eatis folitariis. 



Cultivators find, that wherever different fpecies of Mulleirr 

 grow near together, they are fo apt to mix, that it is impoflible 

 to preferve them diftincl, when propagated by feeds. And our 

 prefent plant, though apparently pofteffing charaBers fufficiently 

 marked to diftinguifh it as a fpecies, is probably the product 

 of Verbascum ovalifolium (No. 1037) impregnated with the 

 pollen of V. phceniceum (No. 885). At leaft we are informed 

 by Mr. George Loddiges, that it came up from feeds 01 

 the former ; from which it neverthelefs differs remarkably m 

 having pedunculated flowers 4 furnifhed with a fingle b'rafte to 

 each, the length of the peduncle, which it embraces j whereas 

 the flowers in ovalifolium are feffile, and have three braftes to 

 each. Like phceniceum y it has the three fhorter filaments 

 covered with long glandular purple hairs, and the two longer 

 ones naked except on the upper fide : the anthers of the former 

 are nearly circular, and are in part clothed with fimilar hairs, but 

 chiefly white ; thofe of the longer filaments are moon-ftiaped 

 and naked : all the filaments are naked at the lower part. 



It is a hardy biennial, and having long, undivided ftalks, 

 with the flowers in a lengthened raceme, is handfome, and 

 grows lef s draggling than the branched fpecies. If blown 

 vmnin doors, the flowers lofe the copper colour and become 

 ot a pale yellow with a purple eye in the centre. Flowers m 

 July and Auguft. 7 



