Verbascum thapsus L.

Spice Basal leaves Cauline leaf Flower detail In the field

Family: SCROPHULARIACEAE

Genus: Verbascum

Sinònims: Verbascum thapsus L. subsp. montanum (Schrad.) Bonnier & Layens Verbascum thapsus L. subsp. crassifolium (Lam. & DC.) Murb.

Catalan common name: Blenera. Candelera. Cua de guilla. Cua de moltó. Ploraner. Trepó.

Spanish common name: Candelaria. Gordolobo común.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Eurosiberian

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Oakforest. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Forests and disturbed zones.

Characteristics: A robust plant covered by great tufts of hairs. Visible is a basal leaf rosette, and from this structure emerges a central stem, also robust, covered with leaves and finished in a dense compact and elongated panicle of large yellow flowers. At least the lower part of the inflorescence the flowers are united in groups on the bract axils (for V. Creticum and V. boerhavii flowers are solitary). The basal leaves are normally entire or dentate and glaborous on the reverse.(not lobate with a glaborous face as V. sinatum, the leaves are lobate-undulate and covered in tufts of hair, in addition the panicle is not dense and compact but ample and sparse). The cauline leaves are decurrent. Differs from the rest of the subspecies, as its stamens are intensely pilose and a thickened style with a catite stigma.

Observations: In this genus interspecific hybrids are very common.