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Black mullein

 

 

 

Dark mullein is eye-catching from far off. Reason: its height and the long bright yellow inflorescence that sometimes makes up almost half of the height of the plant. It can grow up to 1 ½ metres tall.  

 

Habitats are open and dryish areas, road verges, also river banks. It is not long-lived where it grows, either a biennial or a short-lived perennial:  a relative of the mighty great mullein which is also only a biennial.

 

The stem of dark mullein is reddish and furrowed, the dark green leaves cover the stem sparsely. The delicate flowers, inclined to fall off, have stamen filaments covered with long purple hairs.

 

Dar mullein is not toxic to humans, but to insects it is. We could experimen with a naturlal and for us, safe insecticide. Interesting in fact whether mullein stems would prevent the attacks of ants on summer houses?

 

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