Great Mullein is a
native
biennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in scrubland, hedgerows and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 200cm.
Great Mullein takes its name from its relative size ('greater') and from the late Middle English for 'yellow', referring to its flower colour. Great Mullein is a tall erect plant, bushy at the base and tapering to a terminal spike of densely-clustered flowers. It has a greyish-green appearance, owing to the short fine hairs covering its leaves, buds and stem.
Botanic classification and naming: Great Mullein is a member of the Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family. The genus name
'Verbascum' identifies the plant as a Mullein and its species name 'thapsus' means 'from Thapsus, Tunisia'.
Benefits: Produces large quantities of pollen, attracting Honey bees, Bumble bees and Solitary bees.
Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.
|