584 Handbook of N ature-Study 



young of a snout beetle, which is a far more dangerous enemy of Ihe 

 mullein than is the sheep. 



The mullein plant is like the old woman who lived in a shoe in the 

 matter of blossom-children ; she has so many that they are unkempt and 



irregular, but there are normally four 

 yellow or white petals and a five-lobed 

 calyx. I have never been able to solve 

 the problem of the five stamens which, 

 when the flower opens, are folded 

 together in a knock-kneed fashion. The 

 upper three are bearded below the 

 anthers, the middle being the shortest. 

 The lower two are much longer and have 

 no fuzz on their filaments; they at first 

 stand straight out, with the stigma 

 between them; but after the upper 

 anthers have shed their pollen, these 

 1,2. Mullein flowers in different slages.^^^'^'^-^^ curve up like boars' teeth and 

 3. Mullein seed enlarged. 4. A bit Splash their pollen On the upper petals, 

 of Mullein leaf enlarged. the stigma protruding desolately and 



one-sidedly below. Later the corolla, 

 stamens and all, falls off, leaving the stigma and style attached to the 

 seed-capsule. 



The color of the mullein flowers varies from lemon-yellow to white. 

 The filaments are pale yellow; the anthers and pollen, orange. The seed- 

 capsule is encased in the long calyx-lobes, and is shaped like a blunt egg. 

 Cutting it in two crosswise, the central core, tough and flattened and 

 almost filling the capsule, is revealed and, growing upon its surface, are 

 numberless tiny, brown seeds, as fine as gunpowder. Later the capsule 

 divides partially in quarters, opening wide enough to shake out the tiny 

 seeds with every wandering blast. The seed, when seen through a lens, 

 is very pretty; it looks like a section of a corncob, pitted and ribbed. A 

 nice point of investigation for some junior naturalist is to work out the 

 fertilization of the mullein flower, and note what insects assist. The 

 mullein has another spoke in the wheel of its success. The seed, scattered 

 from the sere and dried plants, settles comfortably in any place where it 

 can reach the soil, and during the first season grows a beautiful velvety 

 rosette of frosted leaves. No wonder Europeans grow it in gardens under 

 the name of the "American velvet plant." These rosettes lie flat under 

 the snow, with their tap-roots strong and already deep in the soil, and are 

 ready to begin their work of food-making as soon as the spring sun gives 

 them power. 



LESSON CXLVI 

 Mullein 

 Leading lliought — The mullein has its leaves covered with felt, which 

 prevents evaporation during the dry weather and also prevents animals 

 from grazing upon the plant. It has a deep root, and this gives moisture 

 and food beyond the reach of most other plants. It blossoms all summer 

 and until the snow comes in the autumn, and thus forms many, many 

 seeds, which the wind plants for it; and here in our midst it lives and 

 thrives despite us. 



