SCUOPnULAUIACEiE. HI 



branches from the axils of the upper leaves. Radical leaves G to 

 15 inches long, in a rosette, narrowed at the base into short stalks ; 

 stem-leaves all (except the lowest) strongly decurrent, the wing 

 usually reaching from one leaf to the next, diminishing rapidly 

 in size upwards, the uppermost ones passing insensibly into the 

 bracts of the inflorescence, of which the lower ones are much 

 longer than the calyces, the upper ones only slightly exceeding 

 them. Spike 4 inches to 1 foot long, very thick and dense, with 

 the flowers crowded, nearly sessile. Calyx-segments triangidar, 

 acuminated, very densely clothed with felted stellate hairs. 

 Corolla ^ to 1 inch across ; limb concave, divided into obovate seg- 

 ments about halfway down, and clothed with stellate hairs on the 

 outside. Capsule about the size of a large pea, roundish, ovate-ovoid, 

 thickly clothed with stellate down, splitting into 2 valves, each of 

 which has a slight fissure at the apex. Seeds all conical, with very 

 prominent undulated longitudinal ribs. Whole plant appearing 

 whiteish or grey, from the abundance of the felted pubescence. 



Great Mullein. 



French, Molene Bouillon Blanc. German, KlevMumiges WollJcraut. 



The etymology of the common name of this plant is somewhat curious, as 

 given by Dr. Prior. He tells us that the Mullein was known as the higtaper, and 

 that the French word moleuie means the scab in cattle, and that the term malandre 

 was applied to all sorts of diseases in cattle, — to lung diseases among the rest. The 

 higtaper, being used for these, acquired its name of Mullein and Bullock's Wort. The 

 Mullein was formerly valued in medicine on account ot its emollient properties. A 

 decoction of the leaves was recommended by the physicians of the last century for 

 diarrhoeas. Sir James Smith says " that a pint of cow's milk, with a handful of the 

 leaves of this Mullein boiled in it to halt a pint, sweetened, strained, and taken at 

 bedtime, is a pleasant, emollient, and nutritious medicine for allaying a cough, or 

 removing pain and irritation." In more ancient times much higher virtues were 

 attributed to this plant. Culpepper gives us a list of most extraordinary cures 

 performed by its agency, and Gerarde remarks, that " there be some who think that 

 this herbe being but carryed aboute one, doth help the falling sickness, especially the 

 leaves of that plant, which hath not as yet borne flowers, and gathered when the sun 

 is in Virgo and the moon in Aries, which thing, notwithstanding, is vaine and 

 superstitious." The Mullein is sometimes known as the Torch-blade or King's Taper, 

 which doubtless have the same meaning as the older name of Higtaper. Parkinson 

 tells us that " Verbascum is called of the Latins Candela regia and Candelaria, 

 because the elder age used the stalkes dipped in such to burne, whether at funeralls or 

 otherwise." The word hig may mean high ; so that it is sometimes called "High Taper," 

 either from its candle-like appearance when growing by itself, pointing straightly 

 upwards with its flame-like crown of flowers, or from the facts before mentioned as to 

 its use. The woolly covering of the leaves and stem was used for lamp wicks long 

 before the introduction of cotton and lamps, and caudles provided with wicks of this 

 kind were supposed to be used by witches in their incantations ; hence another name 

 is recorded, — that of " Hag Taper." The specific name of Thapsm has been derived 



