Flower ID: IMG_2322.JPG-06-27-2024 Flower name (scientific): Verbascum thapsus Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ver-BASK-um THAP-sus Flower name (common): Common Mullein Family name (common): Figwort Family name (scientific): Scrophulariaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Latin for mullein, or some kind of mullein. Also given as a corruption of the Latin barbascum, which translates as, with a beard, referencing the hairy nature of the plant. Specific epithet: From the Island of Thapsos (located off the east coast of Sicily). Common name origin: From Anglo-Norman and Old French moleine, with the word origin uncertain. Flower description: Size: 0.6 to 0.8 inches (1.5 to 2.0 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Size: 12 to 72 inches (30 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Basal rosette leaves up to about 50 cm long. Cauline leaves up to 30 to 45 cm long and up to 10 to 14 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, obovate or oblong-ovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, naturalized, potentially invasive. Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Biennial Habitat: Disturbed areas, waste areas, roadsides, praires, fields, streambanks, sun or part shade, dry or moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No lookalikes. Ethnobotany: The Menominee used the root as a remedy for pulmonary diseases and the leaf was smoked as a tobacco (Smith, p. 53, 1923). The Potawatomi smoked the dry leaves in a pipe to cure asthma, and also smudge the leaves as a remedy for catarrh and to treat a patient who is unconscious (Smith, p. 83, 1933). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Verbascum thapsus subsp. thapsus (The other infraspecific is Verbascum thapsus subsp. montanum (Schrader) Bonnier & Layens which has not been recorded in North America.) Wetland Status (NC): UPL Wetland Status (MW): UPL