COMMON MULLEIN 



Pistil. — Ovary two-celled; style dilated and flattened 

 at the summit. 



Fruit. — Many-seeded capsule; seeds rough. 

 Pollinated by flies. 



In midsummer the Mullein stands on the sunny 

 hillsides, spreading the pale, grayish green of its velvet 

 leaves over rocks, little hillocks, and hollows, and 

 lifting its clumsy flower-stem three to seven feet 

 above the base. The plant is biennial and usually 

 among and between the flowering plants is a liberal 

 sprinkling of seedling rosettes. These rosettes are 

 conspicuous long before the flowering stem appears. 



The Mullein possesses a number of the qualities 

 of a successful weed. The root digs deep so that 

 the plant endures with composure the fierce sunlight, 

 as well as prolonged drought in the dry exposed situa- 

 tions where it grows. The felted hairs of the leaves 

 serve well in both winter and summer conditions, 

 prevent undue respiration in the heat of summer, 

 and form a protecting blanket against the cold of 

 winter. 



The flower-stalk is long, crowded with blossoms 

 and the flowering period begins early and ends late. 

 The blossoms are crow^ded and irregular, but normally 

 there should be a five-lobed calyx, a yellow^ wheel- 

 shaped corolla with five, unequal, rounded and spread- 

 ing lobes. There are five protruding stamens, the 

 upper three bearded below the anthers, the lower two 

 much longer and smooth. At first they stand straight 

 out with the style between them, later they curve 

 upward and the stigma protrudes one-sidedly below. 

 Color of corolla varies from lemon-yellow to white, 



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