VERBASCUM

Verbascum L., Sp. Pl. 1: 177. 1753; Fl. China @ eFlora.org 18: 4.

Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Leaves usually simple, alternate, basally rosulate. Inflorescence terminal, spicate, racemose or paniculate. Calyx 5-lobed. Corolla usually yellow, rarely purple or white; tube short; limb rotate, lobes 5, subequal, radiate. Stamens 4 or 5; filaments usually woolly; anthers monothecous, confluent, anterior anthers linear- oblong or reniform, posterior anthers reniform or transverse. Ovary 2-loculed. Capsule septicidal. Seeds numerous, conically cylindric, 6-8 ribbed.

464 species

Verbascum coromandelianum

Verbascum coromandelianum (Vahl.) Hub.-Mor., Bauhinia 5: 11. 1973; Verbascum chinense (L.) Santapau, Fl. Purandhar 90. 1958; Sharma & Kachroo, Fl. Jammu (Illustr.) 2: t. 196. 1983; Dhaliwal & Sharma, Fl. Kullu Dist. 488. 1999; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 470. 2004; Scrophularia chinensis L., Mant. Pl. 2: 250. 1771; Verbascum coromandelicum Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 468. 1891; Celsia coromandelina J. Koenig, ex Rottb., Pl. Hort. Univ. Rar. Prog.: 29. 1773; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 251. 1885.

Annual herb. Stems erect, branched apically, 50-70 cm long, sparsely glandular pubescent. Leaves basal (radical) and cauline, 10-15 cm long; basal leaves crowded, lyrate-pinnatifid, segments ovate-oblong, subacute, on 2-6 cm long pubescent petioles; cauline leaves alternate, lower lyrate-pinnatifid, upper oblong-lanceolate, uppermost sessile, ovate or elliptic, crenate, adaxially adpressed pubescent, abaxially white tomentose. Flowers bisexual, +/- actinomorphic, 5-merous, hypogynous, 5-6 mm long, in lax, 20-25 cm long racemes, simple or branched, elongating in fruit up to 30 cm; flowers solitary at each node. Rachises, bracts, pedicels and calyces glandular pubescent. Pedicels to 5 mm, elongating to 10 mm in fruit. Bracts 5-6 mm long, ovate, margin coarsely dentate, apex acuminate, persistent. Calyx 3-4.5 mm long; tube very short; lobes 5, ovate or elliptic-oblong, subobtuse, persistent. Corolla yellow, ca. 1 cm in diameter; tube short; limb rotate, lobes 5, subequal, spreading, obovate or suborbicular, obtuse. Stamens 4, didynamous, filaments woolly, hairs glandular; anthers monothecous, reniform or linear oblong. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary puberulous, 2-locular, many ovules per loculus, axile placentation; stigma capitate. Capsules globose or ovoid, 5-8 mm x 5-7 mm, didymous, longer than persistent calyx, glandular, septicidal. Seeds many, oblong, truncate at both ends, warty, brownish.

Flowering and Fruiting: March to June
Common Names: Chinese Mullein; Gidar Tamaku, Kokhima, Kulahal (Hindi)