Common Mullein

The Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) is a villous (covered in soft hair) dicotyledonous biennial and is extremely common in Europe, Asia and The Americas.

Botanical properties

V. thapsus produces a large (6–7" wide) rosette of leaves. The outer leaves are supine and, working inwards, the leaves become more and more vertical. The strong stem (2/3" wide) sprouts from the center and can reach heights nearing 6 feet. Stem leaves are alternate, clasping a long part of the stem. Stem ends in a dense spike composed of yellow flowers (2/3" wide) opening from bottom to top.

Distribution and multiplication

The common mullein is extremely common everywhere it is present. It is a native plant in Europe, Turkey and India, and an introduced naturalized species in North America (17th century), Australia, Chile, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The plant is biennial, producing only its typical rosette the first year. The following year, it blooms and spreads through the production of innumerable small brown seeds.

Ecological aspects

The seeds are consumed by some birds (such as the American Goldfinch) and the leaves by various insects. It host mildews, the cucumber mosaic virus and the tarnished plant bug.

The common mullein is not normally considered an invasive species, because its biennial cycle and easy direct removal (unlike Dandelions, it cannot regrow from its root) prevents it from invading cultures. Invasive behavior is also unlikely because the plant favors ground unfit for cultivation. However, the various culture-damaging agents it hosts make it unwanted near cultures. It has the status of noxious weed in the states of Colorado and Hawaii and the state of Victoria, Australia.

Medicine

Mulleins are with comfrey among the oldest known medicinal plants. Flowers and leaves from the common mullein are used for their strong mucilaginous (sticky and viscous) content against all forms of throat and lung irritation. To avoid further irritation caused by the hairs, it is strongly recommended to finely filter the beverage before taking it. Leaves can also be used topically on dry skin.

The seeds contain a sapotoxin called rotenone which impedes cellular respiration and is used to intoxicate fish for fishing or population control.

Cultivation

An old French expression "to plant mulleins" meant "to work for nothing". The plant has nonetheless been cultivated worlwide for its medicinal properties.

Trivia

The flower provides green and brown tints, the latter of which was used by Romans for their hair. The fuzz on the leaves was woven into candle wicks.

However, the most widespread beliefs about common mullein is that burning it protected against evil spirits and demons. This belief was widespread across western Christianity and mullein was burnt during celebrations on the second Sunday of Lent in France ("Dimanche des brandons").