Common Mullein
Verbascum thapsus · Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple leaf, biennial plant
Shape
Elliptic to obovate
Margin
Entire or very shallowly and remotely crenate
Arrangement
Basal rosette in the first year, alternate on a tall flowering stalk in the second year
Venation
Pinnate with prominent, branching lateral veins creating a reticulate net pattern
Key Features
Extremely soft, thick, woolly or felt-like leaves; large basal rosette habit in the first year; tall, erect flowering spike with yellow flowers in the second year
Description
Common Mullein is a striking biennial herb easily recognized in its first year by a large, dense basal rosette of grayish-green, flannel-like leaves. In its second year, it shoots up a single, unbranched, towering flower spike that can reach up to 7 feet tall, densely packed with small yellow flowers. The whole plant has a distinctly woolly texture that protects it from extreme heat and water loss.
Habitat
Disturbed soils, waste places, roadsides, pastures, dry rocky slopes, and open, sunny areas with well-drained soils
Native Range
Native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia; introduced and widely naturalized throughout North America, Australia, and New Zealand