Beta

mullein, Common, Verbascum thapsus

Weed Control Options mullein, Common
Table of Contents
  1. Life Cycle
  2. Propagation
  3. Stems
  4. Leaves
  5. Flowers and Fruit
  6. Roots and Underground Structures
  7. Habitat
  8. Distinguishing Features
  9. Media Items

 

Life Cycle

Biennial.

Propagation

Reproducing only by seed.

Stems

First year plant has no stems but just a rosette of large, gray woolly leaves. Second year plant has tall erect stems. Stem 1-2m high, stout, unbranched or with 1 or 2 branches near the top, somewhat winged by edges of leaves which run down the stem below their nodes. The stems are densely woolly.

Leaves

First year plant is a rosette with many leaves, often 30cm long and 10cm wide. They are oblong or broadest beyond the middle, narrowed towards the stalk. Stem leaves of second year plants are a similar shape but gradually smaller upwards and changing from widest beyond the middle to widest before the middle and without leafstalks.

Flowers and Fruit

Flowers in a very dense, compact, elongated, thick spike. Five petals, yellow, united into a saucer-shaped corolla 12-20mm wide with 5 lobes. Stamens with 3 small anthers and 2 long ones. Seedpods are nearly spherical, about 1cm in diameter but obscured by the mass of woolly bracts and sepals. Seeds brownish, very small, about 0.7mm long. Flowers from early July to September.

Roots and Underground Structures

Deep and thick taproot.

Habitat

Common mullein is widespread throughout southern Ontario but rather rare in the northern part of the province, occurring usually in dry sandy or gravelly soils, along roadsides, waste places and poor pastures.

Distinguishing Features

It is distinguished by its densely white or gray woolly leaves during the first year, almost resembling white felt insoles, its stiffly erect stem in the second year, tipped with yellow flowers (hence one local name, "Candelabra"), its leaf margins continuing down the stem as narrow wings, its very dense, thick, woolly spike with yellowish flowers and nearly spherical seedpods and its erect, dry, brownish stalks which may remain standing for one or two years.

Media Items

Figure: 1
Figure 1: Top

Figure: 2
Figure 2: Cotyledons of common mullein. Top

Figure: 3
Figure 3: 4 leaf common mullein with cotyledons. Top

Figure: 4
Figure 4: Seedling common mullein prior to bolting. Top

Figure: 5
Figure 5: Leaf of common mullein showing the woolly texture. Top

Figure: 6
Figure 6: Common mullein bolting and prior to flowering. Top

Figure: 7
Figure 7: Yellow flower of common mullein. Top

Figure: 8
Figure 8: Top

Figure: 9
Figure 9: Densely wooly stem of mullein. Top

Figure: 10
Figure 10: Lower leaf of common mullein. Top

Figure: 11
Figure 11: Mullein plant on roadside in central Ontario, mid-July. Top

Figure: 12
Figure 12: Mature seed head. Top