22 
dry, sandy soil, along roads and fence rows, on the borders of timber 
land, and in small cleared places. 
Deseription.—This is a very handsome plant of the figwort family 
(Scrophulariacez), biennial, and the first year forms only a rosette of 
dense leaves, but in the second year of its growth the simple erect 
flowering stalk is produced, attaining a height of from 3 to 4 feet. This 
is round, indistinctly angled toward the top, leafy and downy. The 
leaves are oblong-ovate, narrowed at the base into long winged stalks; 
the upper surface of the leaves is dull-green and wrinkled, while the 
under side is grayish, with short, soft hairs and a thick network of 
prominent veins. The root leaves are rather large and are borne on 
long stalks, but as the leaves approach the top of the plant they become 
smaller and the leafstalks shorter. 
The plant is in flower about June, and the long clusters of numerous 
tubular bell-shaped flowers are very showy. The clusters are ter- 
minal, and about 14 inches in length. The flowers are large, about 2 
inches long, the color ranging from white through lavender to purple, 
the inside of the lower lobe bearing long, soft, white hairs and crim- 
son spots on a white ground. 
Part used.—Leaves of the second year’s growth only are employed, 
and these should be collected when about two-thirds of the flowers have 
expanded. They should be very carefully dried in the shade and then 
kept in close boxes or barrels so as to keep out all moisture. The 
greatest care is necessary in curing, as the leaves soon lose their 
medicinal properties if not properly dried. 
Preparations made from foxglove are of great value in heart troubles, 
but they are poisonous and should never be used except on the advice 
of a physician. 
Imports and prices—From 40,000 to 60,000 pounds of digitalis or 
foxglove are annually imported into this country from Europe, where 
the plant is cultivated. The American-grown product has so far never 
been used, but leaves from the wild American plant have been assayed 
and found to be equally as good as the European article. 
The price per pound ranges from about 6 to 8 cents. 
MULLEIN. 
Verbascum thapsus L. 
Other common names.—Great mullein, velvet or mullein dock, Aaron’s 
rod, Adam’s flannel, blanket leaf, bullock’s lungwort, cow’s or clown’s 
lungwort, candlewick, feltwort, flannel leaf, old-man’s flannel, hare’s 
beard, hedge taper, ice leaf, Jacob’s staff, J upiter’s staff, lady’s fox- 
_ glove, Peter’s staff, shepherd’s club, torches, torchwort, velvet plant. 
Wig. 14.) ee ; on 3 oe, 
_ Range and habitat.—Mullein is a native of Europe, and occursinthis _ 
