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Moth Mullein

Verbascum blattaria

Summary 5

Moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria) is a biennial forb that is native to Europe. The flowers occur on the ends of erect stems that are produced during the second year of growth. The flowers are yellow to white in color with 5 petals that have purple or pink centers and are 2 to 3 cm in diameter. mature plants produces seeds that hold 1,000 capsules with a seed viability of 90 years. Leaves initially develop as a basal rosette. Leaves in the first year of growth are oval in outline with slightly wavy margins. In the second year, they alternate along the stem. Mature leaves are 8-45 cm long and 3-15 cm wide. They are glabrous (not hairy), oblong in shape, and have toothed margins. Stems are erect and stout reaching 0.61 to 1.5 m tall.

Sources:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ibD5jwkYTTHfbO9yfGd1H0ya8T8MuGFC/view
http://www.cwma.org/MothMullein.html

Identification 6

Height: 2-5 feet tall
Shape: Upright forb
Flowers: Occur in second year on the ends of the erect flowering stems. Flowers are yellow to white, usually with purple or pink centers. Flowers have 5 petals and each flower occurs on an individual flower stalk (peduncle)
Stems: Erect solitary (normaly), or branching near the top, and only slightly hairy in the upper portions
Leaves: oval basal rosette leaves with slightly wavy margins during the first year of growth, then scalloped or toothed leaves occur alternately along the flowering stem during the second year. Leaves are glabrous, oblong, tapering to a point, with distinctly toothed margins.
Fruit: A round capsule about 1/3 in wide. The capsule splits when mature into two cells filled with tiny dark brown seeds. The surface of each seed is marked with wavy ridges.
Toxic: No
Root: Taproot with fibrous root system

Sources:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ibD5jwkYTTHfbO9yfGd1H0ya8T8MuGFC/view
http://www.cwma.org/MothMullein.html

Origin/Habitat 6

Moth mullein is native to Europe. Habitats for Moth mullein include pastures, hay fields, right-of-ways, rangelands, disturbed and abandoned areas. Moth mullein prefers rich soils but will tolerate dry, sandy, or gravely soils. The invasiveness of Moth mullein affects forage quality and quantity of pastures and rangelands.

Sources:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ibD5jwkYTTHfbO9yfGd1H0ya8T8MuGFC/view
http://www.cwma.org/MothMullein.html

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/35478170@N08/3741882422
  2. (c) Sarah Wilson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sarah Wilson
  3. (c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alex Abair
  4. (c) 2008 Zoya Akulova, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=235868&one=T
  5. Adapted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbascum_blattaria
  6. (c) Colorado Parks and Wildlife, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Color pink, white, yellow
Species status List B
Growth form Flowering Plants
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