This information courtesy
of the Colorado Natural Areas Program
Family:
Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)
Other Names: slippery
mullein
USDA Code: VEBL
Legal Status: Colorado Noxious Weed List B
IDENTIFICATION
Lifecycle: Biennial
Growth form: forb
Flower: Occur on the ends of the erect flowering stems
that are produced during the second year of growth.
Individual flowers are yellow to white in color, usually
with some tinge of purple within. Flowers consist of 5
petals and each flower occurs on an individual flower stalk
(peduncle).
Seeds/Fruit: A round capsule about .33 inch in diameter.
The capsule splits when mature into two cells filled with
tiny dark brown seeds. The surface of each seed is marked
with wavy ridges.
Leaves: Leaves initially develop as a basal rosette of
leaves during the first year of growth and then occur
alternately along the flowering stem during the second year
of growth. Leaves are without hairs (glabrous), oblong in
outline, tapering to a point, with distinctly toothed
margins.
Stems:
Erect solitary (normally), or branching near the
top, only slightly hairy in the upper portions, reaching 2-5
feet in height.
Roots: Taproot with fibrous root system.
Seedling: Cotyledons are spatula-shaped. First true
leaves are oval in outline with only slightly wavy margins.
Subsequent leaves have more scalloped or toothed margins.
Seedlings are very similar in appearance to common mullein
but lack hairs.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Exotics: none
Natives: none
IMPACTS
Agricultural: Can be invasive in pastures and rangelands
affecting forage quality and quantity. Moth mullein can
occasionally be problematic in perennial cropping systems.
Ecological: Can be invasive in natural, rights-of-ways
and neglected areas.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
General requirements: Pastures, hay fields,
rights-of-ways and abandoned areas preferring rich soils but
will tolerate dry, sandy or gravely soils.
Distribution: Throughout the U.S. (excluding Alaska,
Minnesota and Wyoming)
BIOLOGY/ECOLOGY
Life cycle: Biennial
Mode of reproduction: Seed
Seed production: 1000 capsules (no number given for
seeds)
Seed bank: 90 years
Dispersal: Birds (finches) are reported to feed on and
potentially distribute seeds.
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SUMMARY
Mechanical control practices should focus on preventing
seed production or collecting viable seed. Manage existing
desirable plant community in such a way that limits
disturbance or opens niches for moth mullein.
REFERENCES
The Ohio State University (n.d.) Moth Mullein. Retrieved
11/04/2005 http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=760
USDA,
NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5
(http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources
by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
LA 70874-4490 USA
Virginia Tech University. (n.d.) Moth Mullein: Verbascum
blattaria. Retrieved 11/04/2005 http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/vesbl.htm
Whitson,
T.D.(ed.), L.C. Burrill, S.A. Dewey, D.W. Cudney,
B.E. Nelson, R.D. Lee, R. Parker. 1996. Moth mullien. Weeds
of the West. Western Society of Weed Science, in
cooperation with the Western United States Land Grant
Universities Cooperative Extension Services, Newark CA.
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