224 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Corolla tubular with a spur at the base. Pod opening by holes. 2. Lina.ria. 

 Corolla tubular, not spurred. Calyx lobes thick and leathery. 



Stamens 4. Trees. 3. Paclownia. 

 § 2. Lower lip or the lateral lobes covering the upper lip in the bud. 

 Corolla tubular, open ; the border slightly 5-lobed. Flowers in a 



long raceme. . 4. Digitalis. 



Corolla wheel-shaped, 4 parted. Stamens 2. 5. Vero.vica. 



1. YERBAS'CUM, L. Mullein. 



[Quasi Barbascum ; Latin Barba, beard ; from its bearded or woolly habit.] 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla with a very short tube ; limb sub-rotate, S-Iobed 

 — the lobes nearly equal or the front one larger. Stamens 5, unequal, 

 inserted on the tube of the corolla, declinate, exserted, — the filaments 

 (or some of them) bearded. Capsule ovoid or globose. Sisds numerous, 

 rugose-pitted. Tall and usually woolly biennial herhs, with alternate 

 leaves, those of the stem sessile or decurrent. Flowers in dense spikes, 

 or paniculate racemes. 



1, V. Thap'sus, L. Stem simple, erect, tomentose ; leaves oval-lanceo- 

 late or oblong, very woolly on both sides, — -the cauline ones decurrent ; 

 flowers in a dense terminal spike ; 2 lower filaments smooth. 

 Thapsus Yerbascum. Mullein. Common Mullein. 



Fr. Bouillon blanc. Germ. Das "Wollkraut. Span.. Gordolobo. 



Whole plant pale greyish-green or hoary tomentose, — the pubescence much branched. 

 Stem 3-6 feet high, rather stout, leafy, rarely branching unless injured. Radical leaves 

 6-12 inches long, — the cauhne ones smaller. (Spifce cylindric, 6-12 or 15 inches long; 

 flowers bracteate. Corolla bright yellow. Stamens unequal, — the two lower ones longer, 

 with smooth filaments. 



Neglected fields ; road-sides, &c.: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June -July. 

 Fr. August- September. 



Obs. This plant, although abundatit in all the older settlements, is 

 undoubtedly a naturalized foreigner. It is a worthless, unseemly intru- 

 der, in our pastures and cultivated grounds. There is no surer evidence 

 of a slovenlv, negligent farmer, than to see his fields over-run with Mul- 

 leins. AsWie plant produces a vast number of seeds, it can only be 

 kept in subjection by a careful eradication while young — or at least be- 

 fore the fruit is mature. When neglected, the soil soon becomes so full 

 of seeds, that the young plants will be found springing up, in great 

 numbers, for a long succession of years. 



2. V. Blatta'ria, L. Smoothish and green ; stem rather slender, often 

 branched ; leaves oblong, serrate, not decurrent ; flowers racemose ; fila- 

 ments all hairy. 



Moth Yerbascum. Moth Mullein. 



.Sife/n. 2-4 feet high, angular. Leaves 2-b inches long, — the laioer ones potiola.te, often 

 sinuate pinuatifld, the upper ones sessile and clasping. Raceme 6-18 inches long,, leafy or 

 bracteate, glandular pubescent ; pgcZiceZs 3^ an inch to an inch in length ; ^Zoioecs eitlier 

 bright yellow or white with a tinge of purple. 



Pastures and road-sides. Native of Europe. June- August. 



Ohs. A common weed, though not so much of a nuisance as thn pre- 

 ceding. Besides the two species described above, a third, V. LycJmi'tis, 

 L., or White Mullein, is found in some localities. It is a tall plant with 



