56 



FIG. 23. 



MULLEIN, OR VELVET DOCK. 

 Verbascum thapsus. 



The mullein is a weed introduced from Europe, very common in 

 vaste places, road sides, and gravelly or sandy pastures. It is a biennial, 

 ^vith large, long roots, from which spring a tall and usually unbranched 

 stem, 2 to 6 feet high. Both stem and leaves are densely woolly all over, 

 with branched hairs. The leaves are whitish, thick, and velvety to the 

 touch. The flowers are yellow and arranged on densely crowded elon- 

 gated spikes. The capsule containing the seeds is about f in. long, and 

 the seeds are small, about 1-20 in. long, six-sided, with irregular ridges 

 running lengthwise between the sides. The color of the seed is dark 

 brown. An average plant produces 6,000 seeds. 



Time of flowering, July-September. 



Time of seeding, August-November. 



Dispersal as an impurity in clover and grass seed. 



Eradication. Spud or cut below the crown ; or dig up the roots 

 when young ; or break up the sod and grow hoed crops. It easily 

 succumbs to cultivation. 



The Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria), is a worse weed than the 

 common mullein, as it infests meadows and bears far more seed. The 

 seed is often found as an impurity in clover and timothy. The plant 

 itself is smooth and slender, from 2-6 feet high, with dentate leaves. The 

 flower is yellow, with brown marks on the back of the petals ; and the 

 stamens have violet filaments. The seed is brown, very small, and six- 

 sided. Treat it the same as common mullein. 



In Fig. 23 are shown the seeds of the mulleins the upper seed is 

 the common mullein, the lower is the moth mullein. 



