Verbascum Thapsus

Verbascum thapsus Commonly calls Great or Common Mullein and belong to the family Scrophulariaceae. The term Verbascum derives of the Latin berbascum that means beard. This denomination refers to the dense hairiness presenting the leaves of this plant. This species originates from Europe, West Asia, Africa, North America. It inhabits dry grasslands, rocky soils, forests. It is a hairy biennial plant that can grow to 2 metres tall or more. The stem is erect and sometimes branched, formed by a dense hairiness. The flower stem ends in an inflorescence, consisting of a dense cluster, with numerous pale yellow flowers. The indumentum can be green and sometimes white, formed by the hair. The leaves are longer than wide, can reach to 50 cm long. They are simple, oval, lanceolate and are arranged alternately. The lower leaves are larger than the upper leaves. The flowers are hermaphroditic and actinomorphic or so. The flowers have five stamens:The five stamens are of two types, with the three upper stamens being shorter, their filaments covered by yellow or whitish hairs, and having smaller anthers, while the lower two stamens have glabrous filaments and larger anthers. Has the calyx tube with five lobes. An actinomorphic corolla of five petals, the last yellow. The plant produces small ovoid capsules. Each capsule containing large numbers of minute brown sedes. The parts used are the leaves and flowers. It is a plant used to treat respiratory system, helps smooth the bronchi. It has emollient, expectorant, depurative, diuretic, soothing, antispasmodic. The flowers are used to treat colds, coughs, sore throats, bronchitis and hoarseness. the flowers are rich in aucubina and they are having antiallergic effect. The leaves are often used for burns, hemorrhoids, rashes. This plant contains mucilage, saponins, iridoid. Keep in mind that contains root toxic principles, seeds and in lesser amounts in the leaves.