moth mullein
Family
ScrophulariaceaeScientific Name
Verbascum blattariaHabit
A biennial that is closely related to common mullein but lacks hairs and has leaves with toothed margins. Moth mullein is primarily a weed of pastures, hay fields, roadsides, rights-of-ways, and abandoned areas.
Leaves
Leaves initially develop as a basal rosette of leaves during the first year of growth and then occur alternately along the flowering stem during the second year of growth. Leaves are without hairs (glabrous), oblong in outline, tapering to a point, with distinctly toothed margins.
Identifying Characteristics
The rosette growth habit, hairless leaves with toothed margins, and yellow and purple or white and purple flowers are all characteristics that help in the identification of moth mullein. Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is closely related to moth mullein but is generally much larger with woolly foliage and stems. Additionally, common mullein has a terminal cluster of yellow flowers that do not occur on peduncles, whereas moth mullein has yellow to white flowers with purple tinges that do occur on peduncles.
Flower Seed Head
Occur on the ends of the erect flowering stems that are produced during the second year of growth. Individual flowers are yellow to white in color, usually with some tinge of purple within. Flowers consist of 5 petals and each flower occurs on an individual flower stalk (peduncle).
Seed Fruit
A round capsule.
Where Found
It is distributed throughout the United States.
Growth Habit
Varies:
upright and nonwoody,
prostrate and nonwoody
Thorns or Spines
not present
Approximate Flower Diameter
Varies:
quarter,
half dollar,
larger
Dominant Flower Color
Varies:
white,
yellow,
orange
Flower Symmetry
Varies:
radial symmetery,
bilateral symmetry
Leaf Hairs
no hairs
Leaf Shape
Varies:
round,
lance,
oval,
spatulate
Leaf Arrangement
Varies:
alternate,
rosette
Leaf Margin
Varies:
entire,
serrated
Leaf Structure
simple
Leaf Stalk
Varies:
none,
shorter than leaf
Stem Hairs
Varies:
has hairs,
no hairs
Stem Cross Section
round or oval
Milky Sap
not present
Root Structure
Varies:
fibrous,
taproot
Life Cycle
biennial
Plant Type
Herb