3. Verbascum L. (mullein)

Plants biennial herbs (perennial elsewhere), taprooted. Stems usually solitary, unbranched or branched, circular in cross-section or 4-angled, variously glandular- or nonglandular-pubescent, the hairs unbranched or branched, sometimes glabrous or nearly so toward the base. Leaves in a dense basal rosette and alternate on the stems, the stem leaves sessile, often clasping the stems or decurrent along the stems, the basal leaves sessile or less commonly tapered to a short petiole. Stipules absent. Leaf blades variously shaped, unlobed or pinnately lobed, the margins otherwise toothed or scalloped, sometimes finely so, the upper surface variously sparsely to dense hairy (the hairs glandular or not, branched or unbranched), the undersurface variously glabrous to densely hairy (the hairs branched or unbranched), the venation pinnate. Inflorescences terminal, elongate spikes or racemes, these sometimes grouped into panicles, of usually numerous flowers, each flower (or flower stalk) subtended by a small leaflike or scalelike bract; bractlets absent. Calyces actinomorphic, deeply 5-lobed, the lobes oblanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, with entire margins. Corollas slightly to moderately zygomorphic, not markedly bilabiate, more or less saucer-shaped, 5-lobed, the lobes spreading, broadly obovate to nearly circular, the 2 upper lobes somewhat shorter than the other 3, yellow or white, sometimes with purplish markings at the base of the lobes. Stamens 5, usually appearing exserted, the free portions of the filaments elongate, all or some of them densely hairy, the anthers appearing 1-celled, sometimes unequal in size. Staminodes absent. Ovary ovoid to globose, 2-locular. Style usually longer than the ovary, exserted, angled downward, but sometimes curved upward slightly toward the tip, the stigma 1, unlobed, capitate. Fruits ovoid to globose, the style base usually persistent as a slender, short beak. Seeds 0.6–1.0 mm long, broadly conic-quadrate in outline (truncate at each end, slightly tapered from tip to base), turgid, unwinged, the surface with thick wavy longitudinal ridges, these sometimes with cross-ridges to form a loose network, brown to dark brown. About 350 species, Europe, Asia, Africa, introduced elsewhere.

A number of mulleins are cultivated as ornamentals and numerous hybrids and cultivars exist. Several species have been used medicinally, mainly for respiratory ailments. Native Americans began using V. thapsus soon after its introduction by early European colonists, developing a number of medicinal uses and incorporating the leaves (as a tobacco substitute) into ceremonies (Moerman, 1998). The seeds are very long-lived; samples of V. blattaria and V. thapsus stored in moist sand still exhibited significant viability after 120 years (Telewski and Zeevaart, 2002).