60 WILD FLOWERS. 



wicks, were considered as peculiarly appropriate to 

 the service of the Church, and to this use botanical 

 works generally attribute the origin of the names 

 torch- blade, or torch-mullein, and even the German 

 high -taper (psterkerze), heaven's brand (himmel- 

 brand), and king's-taper (konigskerze), which is 

 similar to the Swedish and Danish kongsljus, and 

 kongelys; but it rather appears that they refer, 

 poetically, to the appearance of the plant itself as 

 it stands, pointing up to heaven, with its long and 

 golden spike of thickly set blossoms, like a floral 

 taper. In this view of the question I think I shall 

 be joined by any person who has observed the com- 

 mon mullein (V. Thdpsus), not in the mere dwarfed 

 state in which it usually grows in hedge-rows, or by 

 roadsides, but when it stands on some lone and 

 bleak common, or moor, attaining, in reality, to 

 a height of from six to ten feet, and appearing 

 still higher from its being the only lofty or aspiring 

 thing amongst the dwarf grasses, the stunted furze, 

 and the low heather. And this is, I think, fur- 

 ther confirmed by the names it bears on the Tar- 

 tarean steppes where it becomes quite a marked 

 feature of the scene of steppe-taper, or steppe- 

 light ; and even by the very appropriate and pretty 

 Spanish appellation of Gordolobo, or great constel- 

 lation. 



The Verbascum was formerly held in high repute 

 in diseases of the lungs, and it still holds its place, 

 I believe, in some " Pharmacopoeias " as a remedy, or 

 a palliative, in several diseases, being mucilaginous, 

 emollient, and sedative. It is now seldom used 



