Large-flowered mullein

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Large-flowered mullein
Large-flowered Mullein (Verbascum densiflorum)

Large-flowered Mullein ( Verbascum densiflorum )

Systematics
Euasterids I
Order : Mint family (Lamiales)
Family : Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)
Tribe : Scrophularieae
Genre : Mullein ( Verbascum )
Type : Large-flowered mullein
Scientific name
Verbascum densiflorum
Bertol.

The large-flowered Mullein ( Verbascum densiflorum ) is a species of plant that belongs to the genus of Mullein ( Verbascum ).

description

Leaf rosette in the first year
illustration
Ripe capsule fruits

Vegetative characteristics

The large-flowered mullein grows as a wintering green, biennial herbaceous plant that can usually reach heights of 50 to 120 (sometimes up to 300) centimeters. It only blooms once. The above-ground parts of the plant are densely hairy, woolly, tomentose with tree-shaped trichomes , the stems are winged by the leaf edges that run down.

The alternate leaves arranged on the stem run down the stem. The simple, large leaf blade is oblong elliptical. The wrinkled, pitted leaf blade is densely yellowish to gray-green on both sides, with tomentose hairs. The leaf margin is roughly notched, serrated to serrated.

Generative characteristics

The flowers are grouped in a long, terminal inflorescence and gradually bloom from June to September from bottom to top. The total inflorescence is a thyrse, which is usually composed of four (two to nine) - flowered zymous (tangled coils) partial inflorescences. The flower stalk is very short.

The hermaphroditic flowers are somewhat zygomorphic with a diameter of 35 to 50 millimeters and five-fold with a double flower envelope . The five light golden yellow petals are not dotted or are slightly translucent. Of the dissimilar stamens, the three upper ones are densely hairy, the two lower ones are bald. The scar is club-shaped.

The septicidal (= columnar) capsule fruit , which is brown when ripe, contains about 300 tiny, fine seeds each .

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 32 or 34.

ecology

The large-flowered mullein is a biennial semi -rosette plant . It shows a special drought adaptation: The aboveground parts of the plant are covered with woolly tomentose hair with tree-shaped trichomes , this provides protection from radiation and evaporation. It shows various adaptations to drought: The leaves are wrinkled and pitted, sloping down the stem (whereby the rain is diverted to the roots). In addition, the plant is covered with a thick felt of tree-shaped hair, which serves as protection against radiation and evaporation.

In terms of flower ecology, it is "pollen disk flowers". The pollen is only available in the morning until 10 a.m. The corolla is light golden yellow due to flavonoids and has a high UV reflection. The wool hairs of the stamens used to be interpreted as "lining hair", today you can see them more like anthers dummies. The flowers are feminine ; The fact that hymenoptera always fly to spike-like inflorescences from bottom to top promotes cross- pollination . Other insects can also be used as pollinators.

With 200 flowers per plant there are around 60,000 seeds. The seeds are spread as wind and animal spreaders. The seeds are balloon fliers, light and frost germs. Fruit ripening takes place from September to October.

The large-flowered mullein can be attacked by the rust fungus Uromyces verbasci .

Occurrence

The large-flowered mullein has an intermediate continental distribution. It occurs in Europe, north to Denmark and Sweden, also in Morocco, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The large-flowered mullein can be found scattered in sunny weed meadows, on rubble sites, roadsides, dams, banks, and also in forests. It thrives best on dry to fresh, nutrient-rich, mostly chalky soils . According to Ellenberg , it is a light plant, indicating moderately nitrogenous locations. She is an association characteristic species requiring heat thistle companies (Onopordion acanthii).

Taxonomy

Verbascum densiflorum was first published by Antonio Bertoloni . A synonym for Verbascum densiflorum Bertol. is Verbascum thapsiforme Schrad.

use

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

Because of the mucilage and saponins , the flowers are used medicinally for coughs as an expectorant and irritant-relieving agent , and also in folk medicine for rheumatism .

The large-flowered mullein is used as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens. It is one of the so-called open - space perennials , which, in contrast to the forest perennials and the perennials at the edge of the wood, requires locations that are far from shady woody plants.

More photos

  • Detail of an inflorescence with flowers

  • Population of large-flowered mullein in the Pirin National Park in Bulgaria

  • Large-flowered mullein on the Middle Rhine

literature

  • Gunter Steinbach (Ed.), Bruno P. Kremer u. a .: wildflowers. Recognize & determine. Mosaik, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-576-11456-4 .
  • Manfred A. Fischer, Wolfgang Adler, Karl Oswald: Excursion flora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol . 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. State of Upper Austria, Biology Center of the Upper Austrian State Museums, Linz 2005, ISBN 3-85474-140-5 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp.  828 .
  2. ↑ Peter Zwetko: The rust mushrooms Austria. Supplement and host-parasite directory to the 2nd edition of the Catalogus Florae Austriae, III. Part, Book 1, Uredinales. (PDF; 1.8 MB).
  3. ^ Verbascum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved December 22, 2017.

Web links

Commons : Large-flowered Mullein ( Verbascum densiflorum )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files