Verbascum thapsus L.

Annual or biennial, with greyish or white tomentum of stellate hairs; stems to c. 1 m tall, usually simple, sometimes with a few branches from near base. Rosette lvs shortly petiolate, 7–20 × 3.5–10 cm, elliptic-ovate to elliptic-obovate, crenulate; base attenuate; apex obtuse to acute. Cauline lvs sessile, often more elongated, oblong, to c. 30 cm long; base decurrent. Infl. dense, woolly, to c. 80 cm high, simple or sometimes with 1–2 branches. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate. Fls subsessile or very shortly pedicellate, 1-several in each axil. Calyx 8–12 mm long, deeply lobed; lobes triangular-acuminate. Corolla 1.5–2.5–(3) cm diam., yellow, hairy; lobes rounded. Stamens 5; upper 3 stamens with white-villous filaments; lower 2 stamens glabrous or nearly so, and with anthers decurrent. Capsule 8–10 mm long, broad-ovoid, exserted from calyx. Seeds cylindric-oblong, rugose; apex truncate.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jul.–Apr.