Verbascum nigrum

Perennials. Stems 50–120 cm, sparsely tomentose to glabrate, glabrescent, eglandular. Leaves: surfaces sparsely tomentose to glabrate, abaxial soon glabrescent, sometimes both glabrate, eglandular; basal and proximal cauline with petiole 5–15(–20) mm; blade lanceolate to ovate or oblong, 12–30 × 5–12(–15) cm, base shallowly cordate to nearly truncate; cauline not clasping or distal ones clasping, gradually smaller distally, base not decurrent, margins crenate, apex of distal cauline and floral bracts acute. Inflorescences unbranched, sometimes branched from proximal nodes, narrowly conic panicle, flowers loosely overlapping, in clusters of 5–10; rachis sparsely tomentose to glabrate, glabrescent, thinly tomentose on abaxial leaf surfaces, not completely obscuring epidermis, sometimes glabrate on both surfaces, eglandular; bracts linear, 4–7(–15) mm, base not decurrent, apex acute, sparsely tomentose to glabrate, glabrescent, thinly tomentose on abaxial leaf surfaces, not completely obscuring epidermis, sometimes glabrate on both surfaces, eglandular. Pedicels free, 5–12(–15) mm; bracteoles 2. Flowers: calyx 3–4.5 mm, sparsely tomentose to glabrate, glabrescent, thinly tomentose on abaxial leaf surfaces, not completely obscuring epidermis, sometimes glabrate on both surfaces, eglandular, lobes linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate; corolla yellow to cream, 18–25 mm diam., pellucid glands relatively numerous; filaments villous, hairs purple to violet; stigma capitate. Capsules ovoid-ellipsoid to ellipsoid-obovoid, 4–5 mm, tomentose.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, disturbed sites.
Elevation: 100–300(–700) m.

Introduced; Alta., Ont., Sask., Ill., Mass., Minn., N.H., N.J., Pa., Wis., Europe, Asia.

Discussion

Verbascum nigrum is recognized by its petiolate, basally cordate to truncate basal leaves, bicolored or dark on both surfaces, dark-colored stems, usually unbranched inflorescences, relatively small flowers, and narrow calyx lobes. Plants in the flora area appear to be subsp. nigrum, with a mostly unbranched inflorescence; subsp. abietinum (Borbás) I. K. Ferguson, found in Germany, has freely branched inflorescences.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa