Mullein

"Great Mullein" (Verbascum thapsus)

2007 August 5

2007 July 7

2008 July 21

Notice how the leaves come off of the stem.

2007 July 7

2007 July 7

2007 August 8

2007 August 8

2008 July 22

2008 July 22

2007 October 10

2007 October 10

This felty soft plant, an import from Eurasia, is a biennial starting out as just a rosette of leaves the first year. The next year it shoots up into this tall spire. The leaves make nice soft T.P. if you are in need and in the woods and such a plant is close by ... but it has always been my experience that these kind of plants are never there when you need them! A word of caution though, this plant can irritate the skin when rubbed, making it red. Some used this property to create a natural sort of rouge and it got the nick name, "Quaker Rouge".

A tea may be made from the dried leaves (being sure to strain out the irritating hairs) as a treatment for coughs and lung disorders ... possibly even to sooth migranes. Some First Nation people dried and smoked the leaves to the same end. Medicinally, this plant has expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, astringent and soothing qualities. It was for these qualities that the early settlers brought this plant into the country.

A bright yellow dye may be made from the flowers.

After this plant died back and the stalk became dry and brown, the tip was dipped in suet and burned as a candle or torch and thus had the common name "hedgetaper" or "torch" ... I'm sure it would make good tinder for the old campfire. The leaves were rolled, dried and used as wicks.

Apparently the tiny seeds are somewhat toxic and were used as a narcotic to stun fish? Speaking of seeds, one plant can produce anywhere from 100,000 - 180,000 seeds -- and they remain viable for 100 years!! Long live ... Mullein!