Common mullein
June 10, 2015
Print
EmailVerbascum thapsus L. Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)
Life cycle
Biennial.
Leaves
Seedling leaves develop from a basal rosette in the first year. Large oblong leaves are densely hairy and whitish green. Leaves are alternate in the second year.
Common mullein rosette (left). Common mullein leaf (right).
Stems
Stems bolt from the rosette in the second year to flower and can be up to 6 feet tall.
Flowers and fruit
Yellow flowers with five fused lobes are found on the upper portion of the terminal spike. The two-celled fruit contain many grooved seeds.
Common mullein flowering stalk.
Reproduction
Seeds.
Common mullein seedling.
Print a PDF of this page: Common mullein
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
MSU to study precision livestock farming adoption trends in U.S. swine industry
Published on March 15, 2021
-
MSU research team receives USDA grant to evaluate effectiveness, cost of new blueberry pest management strategies
Published on February 19, 2021
-
A fruitful partnership
Published on September 9, 2021
-
MSU researcher awarded five-year, $2.5 million grant to develop risk assessment training program
Published on October 13, 2020
-
Student-led bird banding innovation spearheads continuation of data collection despite COVID-19
Published on March 16, 2021
-
Creating innovative models to assess spread, possible management of deadly chronic wasting disease
Published on February 1, 2021
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.