Definition

Noun: * A tall, biennial herb (Verbascum thapsus) characterized by a thick, upright stalk covered in dense, woolly hairs, bearing tightly packed yellow flowers. Historically, its dried stalks were used as torches.

Examples

• The field was dotted with the tall, yellow spikes of woolly mullein.
• Woolly mullein is easily identified by its soft, felt-like leaves.
• A single woolly mullein plant can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds.

Advanced Usage

• In historical and ethnobotanical contexts, woolly mullein is noted for its traditional uses beyond its ornamental value, such as for torches or in herbal remedies.
• The term is often used in botanical descriptions and field guides to distinguish this specific, very hairy species from other types of mullein.

Variants and Related Words

• Common Mullein: The most frequent common name for this plant.
• Great Mullein: Another common name emphasizing its size.
• Aaron's Rod: A traditional name referencing its tall, straight stalk.
• Torchweed: A name derived from its historical use.
• Verbascum thapsus: The scientific Latin name.

Synonyms

• Flannel plant
• Shepherd's club

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: Refers specifically to the plant species , noted for its woolly texture.
• Contextual Meaning: In casual gardening or naturalist talk, it may be shortened to just "mullein," though woolly mullein precisely denotes this common species.

Noun

1. tall-stalked very woolly mullein with densely packed yellow flowers; ancient Greeks and Romans dipped the stalks in tallow for funeral torches