FloraFinder.org
Home   About Us   FAQ  
Searching   Image Use Plant Books
x
FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Verbascum blattaria L.

Moth mullein

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderLamialesAromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
FamilyScrophulariaceaeThe figwort family (named for the resemblence of root nodes of some species to tubercular human lymph nodes, or scrophula)
GenusVerbascumA corruption of the Latin Barbascum, the name for these plants
SpeciesblattariaFrom Latin blatta, for “moth”

About plant names...

Moth mullein is native to Eurasia and West Africa, not to North America. It was introduced, and is now naturalized throughout most of the continent. It is considered an invasive species in many areas. It prefers dry disturbed areas such as meadows, roadsides, vacant lots, and gravel bars.

Identification: Plants reach 1½-4′ (45-121 cm) in height, with a strong, ribbed central stem. They are usually biennial. They spend their first year as a basal rosette, a circle of gray-green woolly leaves on the ground. The basal rosettes may reach 1′ (40 cm) in diameter with oblanceolate, bright green leaves. The leaves have irregular teeth, and may be sparsely hairy to glabrous. In the second year, a flowering stalk appears, a raceme with white-to-yellow flowers 1-1½″ (2.5-3.8 cm) around. The flowers have fine purple hairs covering the stamens.

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

The New England Wildflower Society’s GoBotany site

Discover Life

Wric.ucdavis.edu (PDF)

References:

Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 146

Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein)

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm)

Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein)

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein)

6/7/2017 · Phillipsburg, New Jer­sey · By Lawrie Morello

 

Verbascum blattaria description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein)

This shows the stem and leaves. The flowers are from a different species, bird’s foot trefoil. · 7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)

Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein)

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein)

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 23 cm)

Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein)

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)

Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein)

6/2/2017 · Phillipsburg, New Jer­sey · By Lawrie Morello

Range:

About this map...