The road I used to drive to work was lined with wildflowers, but one in particular caught my attention, that was the mullein, so much so that I gathered seeds one fall and planted it in my garden. Little rosettes of soft fuzzy leave appeared they grew, and grew, and grew!! Surely this was how Jack felt when he watched the beanstalk.
I knew almost nothing about the plant except that is dried flower spike could be used as a torch.
The spike grew taller and taller, then burst into soft petaled flowers that not only reminded me of bees, but attracted great numbers of them.
Each year a few plants volunteer and I carefully, spade and till around them, They love the bright sun, and though none of mine have reached the record height of 10 feet, I have hopes.
PASTORAL
Oh, grey hill,
Where the grazing herd
Licks the purple blossom,
Crops the spiky weed!
Oh, stony pasture,
Where the tall mullein
Stands up so sturdy
On its little seed!
Edna St. Vincent Millay
The Mullein, common name of Verbascum thapsus, is also known as Indian Tabacco,Adam's Flannel, Beggar's Blanket, Candlewick Plant,, Flannel Plant, Hag's Taper, Jupiter's Staff, Molene,, Velvet Dock, Velvet Plant, Woolly Mullin.
parts of the plant can be use to make dye.
It has many medicinal uses, the dried leaves are made into cigarettes to calm coughing.
and it has been used since ancient times to drive away evil spirits....witches used it as a candle or lampwick...for this purpose.
