Many of you say you're interested in learning more about plants. The following is some additional information on Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). I'm too lazy to retype it, so I copied and pasted it from my notes.
The two letters and numbers in parentheses refer to the book and page number the information comes from. If you want to know what the book is, just ask.
This represents a page from a plant data base that is a 'work-in-progress' and as such, has some incomplete sections.
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COMMON MULLEIN
AKA: Aaron's Rod, Adam's Flannel, Blanket Leaf, Candle Plant, Feltwort, Flannel Leaf, Jacob's Staff, King's Candle, Velvet Dock, Velvet Leaf (not to be confused with the other Velvet Leaf - Abutilon theophrasti - Doc), Wild Tobacco (EG280, JW219, EJ239)
- Quaker's Rouge
- Camper's toilet paper
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Verbascum thapsus
DESCRIPTION (in particular any unique characteristics):
FLOWERING TIMES:
FRUITING TIMES:
HABITAT:
HARVEST:
PREPARATION:
Other than as a beverage, no food use discovered at this time. (Doc - 7/01)
RELATED EDIBLE SPECIES:
POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES:
WARNINGS!:
- What can not be stressed enough, whether any part of mullein is to be used fresh or dried in an infusion, decoction, or oil, is the need for straining these liquids through a double layer of muslin in order to eliminate the fine hairs that cover all parts of the plant, including the flowers. These hairs can otherwise cause itching in the mouth even after they have been steeped in liquid. (JW222)
- Mullein seeds are toxic and may cause poisoning. (KV387)
MEDICINAL USE:
- Mullein tea provides vitamins B2, B5, B12, D, choline, hesperidin, PABA, sulphur, magnesium, mucilage, saponins, and other active substances. (WM248)
- Mullein is described as having remarkable demulcent (soothing, relieves inflammation - IH xxxvii), emollient (softens and soothes inflamed parts - IH xxxvii), and antispasmodic (relieves or prevents spasms - IH xxxvii) properties; as being a valued astringent (causes contraction and arrests discharges - IH xxxvii); diuretic (increases the secretion and flow of urine - IHxxxvii); vulnerary (promotes healing of cuts and wounds - RM241); and expectorant (acting on the lungs to promote discharge of mucous - RM241); rich in mucilage and other valuable constituents. It is considered particularly useful in treating complaints of the respiratory system, wasting diseases, and inflammations of the mucous membrane and as a respected nerve tonic. (JW221)
- Laboratory tests have shown that it is anti-inflammatory, with antibiotic activity and that it inhibits the tuberculosis bacillus. (WM249)
- Mullein tea is used as a beverage, but it's best known as one of the safest, most effective herbal cough remedies. (WM248)
- Mullein tea is an astringent and demulcent. It's good for diarrhea. (WM249)
- Tea from leaves and flowers used as a folk or naturopathic remedy to treat coughs, colds, bronchitis and other upper respiratory problems. (JM31)
- Herbalists prescribe mullein for relieving a dry cough, allaying diarrhea, and acting as a mild nerve tonic. (JW222)
- As a poultice (the decocted leaves) brings immediate relief from the ache of boils, ulcers, frostbite, piles, scabs, and burns. (JW222)
- An infusion of the flowers as a tea, is used for inducing sleep and relieving pain. (RM186)
- The leaves have an analgesic (pain relieving) effect. (RM186)
- Mullein was smoked in pipes to relieve a sore throat, but in order to ease mental distress, they are reported to have smoked mullein mixed with real tobacco. (JW221)
- Used in herbal smoking mixtures. (ASG9/00)
- There is a presence of coumarin and rotenone in mullein. (ASG9/00)
- Mullein oil is considered one of the finest remedies for all ear complaints. (JW223)
- Mountain folk healers use mullein flowers, Epsom salts, and vinegar to wash necrotic (dead and decaying tissue) wounds of recluse spider bites. (JM31)
FIRST AID USES:
- Hairy leaves used to rub out pain of stinging nettle. (JM31)
- The burned leaves of mullein, used as an incense, has been used in relieving lung congestion. (KK88)
- Used for diaper rash by simply using one of the big leaves, instead of a cloth diaper. (RM186)
TECHNOLOGICAL USES:
-leaves can be used as a pot holder (ASG9/00)
-nature's toilet paper (see rubefacient, below )
-an excellent pithy core, found in the stalk, was used as a charred tinder material. (KK36)
-the dried stalk was used as a hand drill for friction fire making. (TB7-147)
-large amounts of the fresh, crushed leaves and seeds (which contain greater volumes of rotenone) were used as a fish stunner. (ASG9/00)
- This use as a fish stunner can be traced back more than 2000 years. (JW220)
- dried flowerheads, soaked in tallow, produce marvelous torches. (TB7-147)
- the plant can be put to a variety of domestic uses, including a good lamp wick, a torch, if the whole plant is used, and as a glove for picking stinging nettles. (RM186)
- crushed up, dried leaf will serve as a fairly good tinder for firestarting.
- first stripped of leaves, then dipped in suet, pitch or resin and lighted, mullein stalks served as the candles and torches of ancient kings and commoners, alike. Until cotton came into common use, the down of the leaves served for tinder and lamp wicks because it ignited upon even the slightest spark. (JW219)
- wooly mullein leaves, slipped into shoes have warmed many a poorly shod foot throughout the ages, including in modern times of great need. (JW220)
- native Americans lined moccasins with the warm, wooly leaf. (JM31)
- if you boil down a large quantity of mullein plants in water and pour the decoction into fish ponds, the saponins in the mullein will reduce the surface tension of the water to such an extent that the water will get into the gills of the fish, which then drown in their own "element". (HP190)
GENERAL (includes legend and lore):
-it was brought to North America from Europe and was well established by the 1800's. (EJ239)
-ancient cultures around the world considered Mullein a magical protector against witchcraft and evil spirits. (KV385)
- common name, Mullein, comes from the Latin mollis, meaning soft. (BN-39)
- "The name, mullein, has 2 possible derivations - it come either from MOLLIS, which means 'soft' in Latin, or the Latin word, MULANDRUM, which comes from MELANDERS, and means 'leprosy' - an illness this plant was used to treat. 'Verbascum' means 'mullein' in Latin. It derives from the word 'BARBASCUM' which means "with beard". Roman men shaved, barbarians didn't and mullein is certainly as wooly as any barbarian you'll ever encounter. The species name is THAPSUS because mullein resembles the European genus, THAPSIA, named after an ancient town in present day Tunisia. (WM248)
- Mormon women, forbidden to use makeup, rubbed the rough leaves of this rubefacient (to cause reddening of the skin by means of counter-irritation (RM240) on their cheeks to create a beautiful red flush. People who spend time in the woods are attracted to mullein's large velvety leaves when they run out of toilet paper, again creating a beautiful red flush on their cheeks. (WM249)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
·"Most rubefacients are quite irritating. It seems likely that it is the irritation of the tiny, woolen hairs of the Mullein leaf that causes the reddening." (SH230)
·Maybe only the 1st year leaves have rubefacient effect [see SH230].
·Rubefacient - An agent that reddens the skin by producing active or passive increases of blood to the skin. (HM17)
- Archaeologists sometimes look for Indian sites where there's lots of Mullein, because the lime from the Indian shell piles increases soil alkalinity, encouraging this plant to proliferate. (WM248)
- Mullein rosettes can be found in any month of the year. (CJ240)
- Like Evening Primrose and Queen Anne's Lace, Common Mullein is popularly called a biennial but may live for more than just 2 years. If the rosette of leaves grow fast the first year, then the plant will bloom the second year. If the rosette is still small after the first year, then it will grow for a second year and produce blooms the third year. (EJ241)
- The stalk can be 6 or more, feet tall and if you look at its lower part, you will see that it is clearly 5-sided. When the leaves are on the plant, you can see that they are arranged in a spiral up the stem, every 5th leaf directly above one below it. This same arrangement of leaves can be seen on Blackberry stems, which are also 5-sided. (EJ241)
- The flowers, when in bloom, seem to be scattered up and down the stalk, but there is order to this seeming randomness. They are arranged in several spirals up the stem and each flower in bloom is preceded by the one lower on the spiral and will be followed the next day by the one higher on the spiral. Each flower is open only one day, from dawn to midafternoon. (EJ243)
CRITTERS THAT USE THIS FOR FOOD:
RECIPES:
SOURCES CONSULTED: ASG, BN, CJ, EG, EJ, HP, IH, JM, JW, KK, KV, MF, RM, SH, TB7, TE, WM,
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:
- works as a hand drill, although not my favourite because of the careful cleaning of the stalk, required. If you don't clean it well, it chews the hell out of your hands.
- makes an excellent lamp wick
I think Bladite might be on to something. My grandfather used to make yokes for these small sets of carved wagons with logs & toy ox pulling them and I remember him saying time & again he waited too long to get the sticks he bent for the yokes. 
but if you have less than optimal materials, including bow string, it certainly does the job.