FIGWORT FAMILY 



filaments are pale yellow, anthers and pollen, orange. 

 The fruiting capsule opens four-square and frees the 

 tiny seeds which are loved by the goldfinches; one 

 often sees flocks of the little black and yellow fellows 

 feeding from the open cups that rapidly follow the 

 flowers up the stem. The plant in favorable locations 

 and in full flower is one of dignity; it suggests a sen- 

 tinel on the hill; later it stands brown, dismantled, di- 

 shevelled, a cumberer of the ground. 



The plant is abundant in southern Europe where, 

 we are told, it possesses forty different folk-lore names. 

 The dry stem is strong, woody, and loosely cellular 

 so that it readily soaks up oil or melted tallow and 

 was extensively used in the Middle Ages as a torch 

 in funeral ceremonies. Moreover, it made the hag- 

 taper used in the incantations of witchcraft. The 

 leaves were utilized for lamp-wicks by the Greeks. 

 In domestic practice Mullein tea was a favorite remedy 

 for coughs and throat irritation. 



Mullein came to us by way of the Atlantic sea- 

 board, the seeds brought originally no doubt in bal- 

 last. It has wandered as far west as Kansas; it is 

 also found in California, having come doubtless by 

 way of the sea. 



MOTH MULLEIN 



Verbdscum blattdria 



Biennial. Naturalized from Europe. A plant of 

 meadows, fields, and waysides. Quebec to Minnesota, 

 south to Florida and Texas. June-November. 



Stem. — Usually simple, often hairy, one to three feet 

 high. 



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