Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 177 (1753).

Derivation: Latin for mullein.

Synonymy: Celsia L., Sp. Pl. 621 (1753). About 350 species in north temperate Eurasia. (S. Murbeck (1925) Acta Univ. Lund. n.s. 22, 1:1-235; (1933) 29, 2:1-630; (1936) 32, 1:1-46; (1939) 35, 1:1-71; A. Huber-Marath & K. H. Rechinger (1960) Mitt. Thüring. Bot. Ges. 2, 1:42-55).

Common name: Mulleins.

Description:
Perennial or biennial, rarely annual herbs; leaves alternate, forming a basal rosette, scattered above; flowers many in terminal racemes, spikes or panicles.

Bracteoles absent or sometimes present (but in V. virgatum, at least, these may be bracts of subsidiary undeveloped flowers); sepals 5, free, equal or slightly unequal, free or fused at the very base; corolla rotate, with 5 widely spreading nearly equal lobes; stamens 5, or 4 with or without a staminode, the upper 2 or 3 with anthers reniform and transversely inserted, the lower pair similar or with elongated anthers decurrent along the filament, with filaments often villous and anthers 1-celled.

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Bracts and sepals prominently serrate; stamens 4; plant glandular- and eglandular-pubescent	V. creticum 1.
1. Bracts and sepals more or less entire; stamens 5
2. Plant covered by a grey or white, velvety tomentum; leaves entire; inflorescence dense, the flowers and fruits closely packed	V. thapsus 2.
2. Plant green, with a very short glandular and eglandular pubescence; leaves coarsely crenate, sometimes more broadly undulate as well; inflorescence lax, with widely spaced flowers or clusters of flowers	V. virgatum 3.

Author: Not yet available