i> 
326 THE SCROPHULARIA FAMILY. [ Verbascum. 
elabrous or nearly so, with longer anthers adnate to the filaments. Capsule 
thick, rather longer than the calyx. 
Common on roadsides and waste places, all over Europe and temperate 
Asia to the Caucasus, Altai, and Himalaya, and now naturalized in America. 
Frequent in Britain, extending as far north as Aberdeen. J. summer, A 
variety with a much larger and flatter corolla and longer anthers to the 
long stamens, not uncommon on the Continent, where botanists give it the 
name of V. thapsiforme, but which is believed by some to be the original 
form described by Linneeus, is said to have been found also in Kent. 
2. V. Blattaria, Linn. (fig. 725). Moth Mullein.—A tall biennial, 
not quite so stout as V. Thapsus,-sometimes branched, and either glabrous 
or with a few glandular hairs in the upper part. Leaves oblong, coarsely 
toothed or sinuate; the lower ones stalked, the middle ones sessile, the 
upper ones clasping the stem or shortly decurrent. Flowers yellow or 
rarely white, in a long, loose, simple raceme; the pedicels from 3 to 6 
lines long, either solitary or rarely two together in the axil of a green bract, 
Hairs of the filaments purple. | 
On banks and edges of fields, in central and southern Europe, Russian 
and central Asia, and naturalized in North America, but not extending 
into Scandinavia. Indicated in several counties of England south of 
Norfolk and Stafford, and ,in southern Ireland, but generally regarded as 
an introduced plant, except perhaps near the southern coast. Jl. summer 
and autumn, 
3. V. virgatum, With. (fig. 726). Twiggy Mullein.—This may be a 
mere variety of V. Blattaria, but the glandular hairs are more abundant, 
and the pedicels of the flowers are very short, usually from 2 to 6 together 
under each bract. 
Apparently limited on the Continent to western and central Europe, and 
generally less common there than V. Blattaria, although it has established 
itself here and there as a weed of cultivation in northern as well as tropical 
America and other distant lands. Rather more frequent in England than 
V. Blattaria, but very rare, and probably introduced only in Ireland, 7. 
summer and autumn. , 
4, VW. nigrum, Linn. (fig. 727). Dark Mullein.—Stem sparingly 
clothed with woolly hairs, 2 to 3 feet high, ending in a long, simple or 
slightly branched raceme. Leaves crenate, nearly glabrous on the upper 
side, slightly woolly underneath; the lower ones large, cordate-oblong, on 
long stalks; the upper ones nearly sessile, small, and pointed. Flowers 
numerous within each bract, more or less stalked, smaller than in the last 
three species. Corolla yellow, with bright-purple hairs to the filaments. | 
On banks and waysides, all over Europe and western Asia, except the 
extreme north. Truly indigenous in central and southern England, but 
naturalized only in northern England and southern Scotland, and not 
indicated in Ireland. Ll. summer and autumn. 
5. WV. Lychnitis, Linn. (fig. 728). White Mullein.—About the size 
of V. nigrum, or rather taller. Stem-leaves nearly sessile, the lower ones 
narrowed into a short footstalk, all nearly glabrous above, but covered 
underneath with a short, white, powdery down, which is also sprinkled 
over the stem, and more conspicuous on the calyxes. The racemes form a 
narrow, branching panicle, with erect branches. Flowers numerous, pale 
