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Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Common Mullein | Afton State Park, MN| View Enlarged Image

A tall plant with a crowning stalk of yellow flowers, Mullein is a European import that flourishes along roadsides and in disturbed soil in late summer and fall. Mullein actually take two years to grow. In its first year, it is a ground-level plant with soft, downy leaves that earned common names like Lamb's Ear and Flannel Leaf (see photo below). Only in its second year does Mullein produce stalks with yellow blooms. Settlers often used the early, downy leaves as padding in their shoes. Some say they even used them as underwear, earning them the common name Adam's Flannel.

Some interesting Mullein facts:

• Romans dipped Mullein stalks in animal fat to use as torches.
• In folklore, witches would often use lamps with mullein wicks, earning the flower the nickname Hag's Taper .
• Settlers put the leaves of young Mullien in their shoes for padding.
• Mullein has many reputed medicinal properties. Herbalists use it to treat mouth ulcers, asthma, and sunburns.
• Before the invention of makeup, women rubbed Mullein leaves on their cheeks. The leaves would irritate their flesh, and add a dash of color.
• Common Mullein has over forty known common names!

Multimedia:

Common Mullein | Stillwater, MN	Common Mullein; first year's growth | Afton State Park, MN

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