VERBASCUM MACRURUM

Family and Genus:- See- SCROPHULARIACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Verbascum thapsiforme

Meaning:- Verbascum (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, a reference to the bearded stamens.

Macrurum (Gr) Long-tailed.

General description:- Robust biennial, whole plant densely and persistently grey-

tomentose

Stem:-

1) 30-150 cm, indumentum, dense, harsh, grey or yellowish.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, 20-50 x 5-13 cm. in a loose rosette, subsessile, elliptic-oblanceolate,

2) Cauline, numerous and well developed, decurrent, forming wings, on the

stem.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, stout and dense, simple or with short branches near the base;

a) fascicles of the flowers confluent.

2) Bracts, (7-)10-14 mm, ovate-lanceolate.

3) Calyx, 7-12 mm persistently tomentose.

a) lobes, ovate, somewhat acuminate.

4) Pedicels, almost completely adnate to the stem.

5) Corolla, 30-45 mm in diam., yellow, with pellucid glands.

6) Stamens, 5, lower with anthers;

a) filament-hairs, white.

7) Stigma, decurrent.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 6-9 mm, broadly ovoid-ellipsoid.

Key features:-

1) Bracts, persistently tomentose, not scarious in fruit.

2) Indumentum, very dense, hard and rough.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Stony and gravelly slopes, gorges, roadsides, ruderal habitats. 0-1200 m.

Distribution:- W mainland Greece, Peloponnisos and Ionian Islands. - Southern

Italy, Sicily, probably also Albania. Fairly widespread on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton