218 



FLOWERS OF WASTE PLACES, ETC. 



The leaves are attacked by a mould, Peronospora sordida. Four 

 beetles, Coccinella 2i-punctata, Cionus thapsi, Longitarsus patruelis, 

 L. tabidus; 3 moths, Mullein, C^tcullia verbasci, Ebulea verbascalis, 

 Nothris verbascella; and a fly, Lonchaa nigra, are found upon it. 



Verbascum, Pliny, is the Latin name for it. Thapsus is a place 



in Africa. 



The names given to it are 

 numerous: Aaron's Rod, Adam's 

 Flannel, Ag-leaf, Ag- paper, 

 Beggar's Blanket, Beggar's 

 Stalk, Blanket Leaf, Bullock's 

 Lungwort, Sea Cabbage, 

 Candle - wick, Clot, Clown's 

 Lung- wort, Shepherd's Club, 

 Cow's Lungwort, Cuddy's Lugs, 

 Mullein or Velvet Dock, Duffle, 

 F^eltwort, Flannel, Our Lord's 

 or Our Lady's Flannel, Fluff- 

 weed, Foxglove, Golden Grain, 

 Golden Rod, Hag-taper, Hare's 

 Beard, Hedge Taper, Hig Taper, 

 Wild Ice-leaf, Jacob's Staff, 

 Jupiter's Staff, Ladies' Fox- 

 glove, White Mullein, Mullein 

 Dock, Old Man's Flannel, 

 Peter's Staff, Rag Paper, Shep- 

 herd's Staff, Taper, Torches, 

 Virgin Mary's Candle, Woollen. 

 As to the name Torches, 

 Lyte says: "The whole toppe, 



MULLEIN (Verbascum Thapsus, L.) -11-1 11 a 



with his pleasant, yellow rloures, 

 sheweth like to a wax-candle, a 



taper, cunningly wrought"; and Coles says: "The elder age used the 

 stalks dipped in suet to burn, whether at funerals or for private uses ". 

 It is called Aaron's Rod from the tall, straight stem, and Adam's Flan- 

 nel and Blanket Leaf from the texture and appearance of the leaves. 

 Gerarde says as to the name Bullock's Lungwort: " The country people, 

 especially those husbandmen in Kent, doe give their cattell the leaves 

 to drink against the cough of the lungs, being an excellent approved 

 medicine for the same, whereupon they do call it Bullock Lungwort ". 

 In N. Somerset they "called" it Lucernaria, "or wick plant, useful for 



Photo. Flatters & Gar 



