FIGWORT FAMILY 



355 



capsule 2-valved, many-seeded. (Name a corruption of the Latin 

 Barbascum, meaning " bearded.") 



1. V. Thdpsus (Great Mullein). — A stout, herbaceous, un- 

 branched plant, 2 — 5 feet high, remarkable for its large, flannel- 

 like leaves, woolly on both 

 sides and decurrent, and 

 club-shaped spikes of yellow 

 flowers. Two of the stamens 

 are longer than the rest, and 

 have white hairs on their fila- 

 ments. — Roadsides ; com- 

 mon. This plant, together 

 with Burdocks and Foxglove, 

 is often introduced by painters 

 into the foreground of land- 

 scapes. — Fl. June — August. 

 Biennial. 



2. V. pulverulentum (Hoary 

 Mullein). ■ — Stem 2 — 3 feet 

 high, round, mealy ; leaves 

 broad, with stellate hairs on 

 both sides, not decurrent ; 

 flowers smaller, bright yellow, 

 in panicles ; stamens nearly 

 equal, scarlet, with white hairs. 

 —Norfolk and Suffolk.— Fl. 

 July. Biennial. 



3. V. Lychnitis (White 

 Mullein). — A similar species, 

 with angular stem ; leaves 

 nearly smooth above ; and 

 small, cream - coloured or 

 white flowers. — Chiefly on a 

 chalky soil ; rare. — Fl. June — 

 August. Biennial. 



4. V. nigrum (Dark Mul- 

 lein). — A handsome plant, not 

 so stout or so tall as V. 

 Thdpsus, and of a darker hue ; 

 stem angular ; leaves stalked, oblong, cordate, with stellate down, 

 especially below ; flowers very numerous, bright yellow, in dense 

 tufts on a long, crowded spike ; stamens covered with purple hairs. 

 — Hedges and roadsides ; local. — Fl. June — October. Biennial. 



Several hybrids between the above four species occur. 

 a a 2 



verbXscum thXpsus (Great Mullein). 



