Scrophulariaceae (snap-dragon, or figwort family)
Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus: Since its introduction, the common mullein, a Eurasian plant, has spread far and wide. It occurs in great numbers, preferring—but by no means restricted to—disturbed areas: roadsides, pasture land, construction sites, fencelines, etc. The plants are characterized by long stems, large dusty-green, hairy leaves and dense clusters (“racemes”) of small five-petaled, flowers. It’s a biennial—growing as an unobtrusive leafy rosette the first year, and blooming the second year. The plants produce great numbers of seeds and spread easily so mulleins are justifiably classified as weeds—all the more so as animals don’t like to browse on the furry leaves. Verbascum is an ancient name, and “mullein,” comes from mollis, Latin for “soft.” The name, thapsus may have been derived from Thapsus in Sicily. In the past the plant’s leaves were used for tea, and for poultices, and the dried stalks and flower clusters were used as torches (presumably saturated first with grease or wax).
