Other common names:
Black Mullein Family: Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae) Group: Mulleins Distinctive features:
Tall stalk of dark yellow ragged-looking flowers. Larger basal leaves. Similar species: • Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) • Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria) Flowers: Summer; Yellow; 5 parts (petals) Habitat: Fields and Open Areas; Open areas. Native/Non-native:
Non-native Status:
Rare in Ontario. Alien.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: nigrum: black Photographs:
42 photographs available, of which 8 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Dark Mullein is relatively uncommon in Ontario. Like all Mulleins, it is not native.
It resembles Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), except the flowers are darker, have blue/purple centers, and the main stalk is thinner. Also the leaves are very different.
A closer view of the flowers.
Note the blue/purple centers. These are the stamens.
A very close view of the flowers.
Unopened flower buds.
The stem is thinner than that of Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), and is sometimes ragged-looking, ie, not straight.
The only specimens of Dark Mullein I have ever seen are along the Waterfront Trail in Hamilton.
The lower leaves. There are no leaves above about the halfway point up the stem.
Close-up view of a leaf. These leaves are quite different than those of Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). They are not fuzzy, are prominently veined, and are a different shape.
