Saturday, April 10, 2010

Common Mullein

Anther common wildflower that we see in Minnesota is Verbascum Thapsus, otherwise known as common mullein. Common mullein is a stalk type plant which grows up from a base of rosette leaves. The stalk is packed with small yellow five petal flowers only a few of which open at any one time. Although it is an invasive species, it is originally from Europe where it is called great mullein, it is not very aggressive. This may be because it is intolerant of shade from neighboring plants.

12 comments:

Randy Emmitt said...

Well done!

Ramosforest.Environment said...

I Love to photograph wild flowers too.
Luiz Ramos

Gill - That British Woman said...

I have never heard of one of these, maybe we call it by another name in Britain? Pretty colour.

Gill in Canada

DeniseinVA said...

I always learn a lot about our wildflowers when I visit here. This one is another beauty. Thank you for sharing and have a great week.

Pat said...

We have mullein growing wild here in the northeastern California foothills, too. Maybe they were brought here by Minnesotan pioneers (seeds stuck on their covered wagons?) I've heard the leaves have medicinal properties.

eileeninmd said...

Lovely wildflowers!

i beati said...

good sturdy wildflower- our cranes do not have that rust color. Will that molt?

Coffeedoff said...

lovely wild flower. I havn't seen it here, maybe it comes from a warmer part of europe!

Randi said...

Terrific photo! I love these - but I don´t have any yellow ones.

Carolyn Ford said...

That is such a beautiful wildflower. I can imagine fields of them...wow...must be beautiful!

vincibene said...

Beautiful! I know it, in Germany it is "Königskerze" = Kings Candle.

Stryker said...

Where do you find all the areas you take pix at?