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clasping mullein, molène faux-phlomis, orange mullein, woolly mullein

white mullein

Habit Biennials.
Stems

(30–)50–200 cm, densely and persistently tomentose, eglandular.

Leaves

surfaces densely and persistently tomentose, eglandular;

basal and proximal cauline with petiole 40–80 mm;

blade ovate-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic or oblong, (10–)15–25(–35) × 4–10(–15) cm, base attenuate;

cauline subauriculate-clasping, gradually smaller distally, base not decurrent, rarely slightly so, margins entire or shallowly crenate, apex of distal cauline and floral bracts caudate-acuminate to short-acuminate.

Inflorescences

unbranched, narrowly cylindric, flowers densely overlapping or remote proximally, in clusters of 2–9;

rachis densely and persistently tomentose, eglandular;

bracts ovate-lanceolate, 9–15 mm, base short-decurrent or not at all, apex acute to short-acuminate, densely and persistently tomentose, eglandular.

Pedicels

adnate to rachis at base, 2–8(–15) mm;

bracteoles 2.

Flowers

calyx 5–12 mm, densely and persistently tomentose, eglandular, lobes lanceolate to triangular;

corolla yellow, 30–55 mm diam., pellucid glands absent or relatively few;

proximal filaments glabrous at least distally, distal pair villous, hairs white or yellow;

stigma spatulate, base decurrent.

Capsules

elliptic-ovoid, 5–8 mm, tomentose.

2n

= 32.

Verbascum phlomoides

Verbascum lychnitis

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Fields, roadsides, disturbed sites.
Elevation 0–600 m. (0–2000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AR; CO; CT; DC; DE; GA; IA; IL; IN; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; NC; NJ; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; SC; TN; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; AB; BC; MB; ON; PE; QC; SK; Europe; Asia [Introduced in North America; introduced also in South America (Ecuador), Pacific Islands (New Zealand)]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; CT; DE; IA; MA; MD; MI; MO; NH; NJ; NY; PA; RI; VA; VT; WV; ON; Europe; Asia [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In the flora area, Verbascum phlomoides is known from a single location each in Manitoba (near Roseisle) and Saskatchewan (near Moose Jaw). The record for Washington possibly is only a waif (King County, Seattle, in waste ground, introduced from Europe, 12 September 1936, W. J. Eyerdam s.n., SMU), because it apparently has not been recorded there since.

Verbascum ×kerneri Fritsch is a hybrid between V. phlomoides and V. thapsus.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Subspecies 2 (1 in the flora).

Verbascum lychnitis is recognized by its bicolored leaves, sessile and non-clasping cauline leaves, freely branched inflorescences with loosely overlapping flower clusters, relatively long pedicels, and relatively small, white corollas. Subspecies moenchii (C. F. Schultz) Holub & F. Mlady was recognized in 1978, referring to a white-flowered variant in central Europe.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 348. FNA vol. 17, p. 349.
Parent taxa Scrophulariaceae > Verbascum Scrophulariaceae > Verbascum
Sibling taxa
V. blattaria, V. bombyciferum, V. densiflorum, V. lychnitis, V. nigrum, V. phoeniceum, V. pulverulentum, V. sinuatum, V. speciosum, V. thapsus, V. virgatum
V. blattaria, V. bombyciferum, V. densiflorum, V. nigrum, V. phlomoides, V. phoeniceum, V. pulverulentum, V. sinuatum, V. speciosum, V. thapsus, V. virgatum
Subordinate taxa
V. lychnitis subsp. lychnitis
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 1194. (1753) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 177. (1753)
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