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Mullein flowers grow on large towers during the plant's second year. The flowers are small (1-2 inches) and yellow. Judging from the picture above: the flowers are perfect having both the female stamen/ovary and the male pollen producing anthers.
The flowers have 5 peddles, 5 anthers on 5 filaments, and one stigma. The anthers are very fuzzy to catch pollen onto any insect that passes. The stigma moves from the side to being in the middle as the flower ages. This is to prevent self-fertilization by having the anthers and stigma mature at different times.
The flowers have 5 peddles, 5 anthers on 5 filaments, and one stigma. The anthers are very fuzzy to catch pollen onto any insect that passes. The stigma moves from the side to being in the middle as the flower ages. This is to prevent self-fertilization by having the anthers and stigma mature at different times.
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V. Thapsus attracts generalized pollenates. Pictured below are small beetles and a honey bee pollenating the mullein flowers. The flower gives nectar and pollen as a reward for pollination. These flowers tend to grow abundantly in prairies and meadows so the changes of the generalized pollinator finding another mullein plant is likely.
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I also found on a highly biased and unreliable site, herbcraft.org, the flower oil from mullein can treat ear infections, remove excess wax from ears, clean infected piercings, treat ear mites in animals, used as an antiseptic, can stop swelling when combined with garlic oil, and when ground ivy is added to it the combo can cure Meniere's disease..
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From the picture it looks like the plant would be pretty visible from long distances. The large flower racemes are like yellow flags!
ReplyDeleteNice example of a way to reduce self-pollination. My guess is the stigma is also not receptive until it moves to the center of the flower.
ReplyDeleteHm… have you thought about quitting school and just starting a center curing all diseases using mullein (and a bit of ivy)?!!
I am glad to say Christa - I have not thought about it.
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