v.] 



VERBASCUM. 



135 



trary, the flowers are minute, and habitually fertilise 

 themselves. 



The species of Verbascum (Mullein) are showy 

 plants, with either white or yellow flowers, forming a 

 tall spike, which in V. Thapsus reaches a height of 

 four feet. V. nigrum, L. (Fig. 98) has yellow flowers ; 

 the stamens clothed with beautiful violet hairs. They 

 secrete very little honey, but are visited by various 



Fig. 98. — Verbnsi:Htn Tkapsus. 



insects for the sake of the pollen, and perhaps also 

 on account of the glandular terminations of the violet 

 staniinal hairs. The stamens turn somewhat upwards, 

 the pistil, on the contrary, downwards, so that an 

 insect alighting on the lower lip of the corolla, which 

 is the most convenient place, would naturally come 

 in contact with it before touching the stamens. K 



