See Also: Mullein(medicine)
mullein(dictionary)

mullein (iou)



mullein noun. Also *mullen. LME.
[Old French moleine (mod. molene) from a Gaulish base corresp. to Breton melen, Cornish & Welsh melyn yellow.]
Any of various tall plants of the genus Verbascum, of the figwort family, with long spiky racemes of usu. yellow flowers and often with densely woolly leaves; esp. (in full great mullein), V. thapsus. LME.
Any of several plants resembling these in foliage; esp. Jerusalem sage, Phlomis fruticosa. L16-M18.
= mullein moth below. E19.
Comb.: mullein moth a pale brown and grey noctuid moth, Cucullia verbasci, whose larvae feed on mullein; mullein pink the rose campion, Lychnis coronaria; mullein shark = mullein moth above; mullein tea an infusion of mullein leaves, used medicinally; mullein wave a white geometrid moth with pale grey markings, Scopula marginepunctata.