LXVL 



VERBASCUM* THAPSUS 



Common Mullein, or High Taper. 



Synonyms. — Verbascum, Pharm. Fdinb. Verbascum mas latifolium luteum, 

 Batch. ILj>., p. 239; Bail Hist.^ p. 1094. Verbascum album vulgare, sive 

 Thapsus barbatus communis, Park, Theat. y p. 60. Tapsus barbatus, Gerarde 

 JEmar.) p. 773. Verbascum foliis decurrentibus utrinque tomentosis, Sal, Stirp. 

 Selv. y n. 581. V. Thapsus, Flor. Dan., p. 631 ; With. Pot. 



Foreign Names.— Fr.: Molene, Bouillon-blanc. Ital, : Verbasco. Span.: 

 Gordolobo. Port. : Verbasco branco. Germ.: Wollkraut. But.: Wollekruid. 

 Sioed. : Kongsljus. Pan. : Kongelys, Buss. : Zarskie skipcta. 



Nat. Order, Solane^e, Juss.; Luridje, Linn.— Pentanpria, 



MoNOGYNIA. 



Gen. Char. — Calyx campanulate, five-partite, nearly equal. Corolla 

 with a very short tube ; the limb flat, expanded, somewhat rotate, five- 

 partite; the lobes rounded, nearly equal, or the lower ones equal. 

 Stamens five, inclining, the lower ones longer, all fertile. The filament* 

 either all, or the three upper barbate. Anthers generally adnate and 



sim 



(by the confluence of the cells) unilocular. Style 

 apex. Stigma entire or bifid. Capsule ovate or somewhat globose ; 

 the valves bifid at the apex. 

 Spec. Char.— Leaves decurrent, crenate, woolly on both sides. Stem 

 simple. Cluster dense. Flowers almost sessile. Corolla golden yellow. 

 Stamens red. Stigma green. 



History. — The QKbyuos of Hippocrates and other ancient authors 

 is supposed to be the Verbascum Thapsus of the moderns. 



Fig. 1. Calyx. 2. Style and stigma. 3. Barbate filament, 4. Corolla dissected, 

 to show the stamens. 



* Verbascum, altered from Barbascum, from the woolly bearded appearance of 

 its leaves, etc. 



