SCKOPHULARINE^. 



607 



4. Dark Mullein. Verbascum nigrum, Linn. (Fig. 722.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 59.) 



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 \V f x 

 upper side, slightly woolly underneath ; }A|>i 

 the lower ones large, cordate-oblong, on 

 long stalks ; the upper ones nearly ses- 

 sile, small, and pointed. Flowers nume- 

 rous between each bract, more or less 

 stalked, smaller than in the last three 

 species. Corolla yellow, with bright-pur- 

 ple hairs to the filaments. 



On banks and waysides, all over Eu- 

 rope and western Asia, except the ex- 

 treme north. Truly indigenous in cen- 

 tral and southern England, but believed 

 to be naturalized only in northern Eng- 

 land and southern Scotland, and not in- 

 dicated in Ireland. Fl. summer and 

 autumn. 



Fig. 722. 



5. White Mullein. Verbascum Lychnitis, Linn. (Fig. 723.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 58.) 



About the size of the dark M., or 

 rather taller. Stem-leaves nearly ses- 

 sile, 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 con- 

 spicuous on the calyxes. The racemes 

 form a narrow, branching panicle, with 

 erect branches. Flowers numerous, 

 pale-yellow or nearly white, the size of 

 those of the black M. Hairs of the fila- 

 ments white. 



On banks and waysides, in Europe 

 and western Asia, extending northwards 

 into Scandinavia, In Britain, scattered 

 over several parts of England and south- 

 ern Scotland, but by no means a com- 

 mon plant. Fl. summer. Fig. 723. 



