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#1
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Not a mystery plant anymore - Verbascum thapsus - Great Mullein
By popular demand! Here is a photo of my other mystery plant which Stewart
Robert Hinsley managed to identify yesterday from a brief description only. The plant was growing in the veg plot last year as a small rosette of furry silver leaves and looked quite cute, so I transplanted it to the orchard. A year on it has become quite a monster. The once pretty looking leaves have made a feast for lots of caterpillars so are now quite tatty. I'll let it run to seed and scatter the seeds in our wild flower area. http://www.avisoft.co.uk/SharedPhotos/Hpim5565a.jpg David. |
#2
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Not a mystery plant anymore - Verbascum thapsus - Great Mullein
"David (Normandy)" writes
By popular demand! Here is a photo of my other mystery plant which Stewart Robert Hinsley managed to identify yesterday from a brief description only. The plant was growing in the veg plot last year as a small rosette of furry silver leaves and looked quite cute, so I transplanted it to the orchard. A year on it has become quite a monster. The once pretty looking leaves have made a feast for lots of caterpillars so are now quite tatty. I'll let it run to seed and scatter the seeds in our wild flower area. http://www.avisoft.co.uk/SharedPhotos/Hpim5565a.jpg Are you going to post a pic of the caterpillars too? :-) -- Kay |
#3
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Not a mystery plant anymore - Verbascum thapsus - Great Mullein
"K" wrote in message ... "David (Normandy)" writes By popular demand! Here is a photo of my other mystery plant which Stewart Robert Hinsley managed to identify yesterday from a brief description only. The plant was growing in the veg plot last year as a small rosette of furry silver leaves and looked quite cute, so I transplanted it to the orchard. A year on it has become quite a monster. The once pretty looking leaves have made a feast for lots of caterpillars so are now quite tatty. I'll let it run to seed and scatter the seeds in our wild flower area. http://www.avisoft.co.uk/SharedPhotos/Hpim5565a.jpg Are you going to post a pic of the caterpillars too? :-) -- Kay Just had a closer look and they all seem to have vacated the premises! They were definitely the mullen moth caterpillars though - I googled them as suggested and they look exactly as I remember them. Another small (first year) one was growing in the veg plot a few weeks ago and it was absolutely writhing with them. As it was next to lots of veggies I pulled it up and put it in the compost. In retrospect I could perhaps have left it if the caterpillars are specialised feeders of that plant alone. I'll know next time and just leave them to it. David. |
#4
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Not a mystery plant anymore - Verbascum thapsus - Great Mullein
On 7 Jul, 12:49, "David \(Normandy\)"
wrote: Just had a closer look and they all seem to have vacated the premises! They were definitely the mullen moth caterpillars though - I googled them as suggested and they look exactly as I remember them. Another small (first year) one was growing in the veg plot a few weeks ago and it was absolutely writhing with them. As it was next to lots of veggies I pulled it up and put it in the compost. In retrospect I could perhaps have left it if the caterpillars are specialised feeders of that plant alone. I'll know next time and just leave them to it. Just vigorously rake the whole thing ... it's 'orrible. You can borrow my father in law for the job ;o) |
#5
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Not a mystery plant anymore - Verbascum thapsus - Great Mullein
David (Normandy) wrote:
By popular demand! Here is a photo of my other mystery plant which Stewart Robert Hinsley managed to identify yesterday from a brief description only. The plant was growing in the veg plot last year as a small rosette of furry silver leaves and looked quite cute, so I transplanted it to the orchard. A year on it has become quite a monster. The once pretty looking leaves have made a feast for lots of caterpillars so are now quite tatty. I'll let it run to seed and scatter the seeds in our wild flower area. http://www.avisoft.co.uk/SharedPhotos/Hpim5565a.jpg David. Looks like Homo Sapiens to me. You'll need to watch that one. Sam |
#6
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Not a mystery plant anymore - Verbascum thapsus - Great Mullein
"Sam" wrote in message om... David (Normandy) wrote: By popular demand! Here is a photo of my other mystery plant which Stewart Robert Hinsley managed to identify yesterday from a brief description only. The plant was growing in the veg plot last year as a small rosette of furry silver leaves and looked quite cute, so I transplanted it to the orchard. A year on it has become quite a monster. The once pretty looking leaves have made a feast for lots of caterpillars so are now quite tatty. I'll let it run to seed and scatter the seeds in our wild flower area. http://www.avisoft.co.uk/SharedPhotos/Hpim5565a.jpg David. Looks like Homo Sapiens to me. You'll need to watch that one. Sam Yes, that one is quite a pest - it keeps eating all the veggies! (Mind you it does plant them all in the first place) :-) David. |
#7
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Not a mystery plant anymore - Verbascum thapsus - Great Mullein
"La Puce" wrote in message ups.com... On 7 Jul, 12:49, "David \(Normandy\)" wrote: Just had a closer look and they all seem to have vacated the premises! They were definitely the mullen moth caterpillars though - I googled them as suggested and they look exactly as I remember them. Another small (first year) one was growing in the veg plot a few weeks ago and it was absolutely writhing with them. As it was next to lots of veggies I pulled it up and put it in the compost. In retrospect I could perhaps have left it if the caterpillars are specialised feeders of that plant alone. I'll know next time and just leave them to it. Just vigorously rake the whole thing ... it's 'orrible. You can borrow my father in law for the job ;o) I must admit it lacks the charm it did last year as a small rosette of silvery leaves, or the charm of it's smaller kin which seem to have more flowers and look less tatty. I'd not seen one before when weeding so rather than composting it, was curious see what it became. Did you ever see "The little shop of horrors" - It'd be my luck to end up with something like that. I guess cats wouldn't be a problem though, nor would any passing Jehovah's Witnesses ;-) "Feed me - Feed me!" David. |
#8
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Not a mystery plant anymore - Verbascum thapsus - Great Mullein
On 8 Jul, 09:22, "David \(Normandy\)"
wrote: Yes, that one is quite a pest - it keeps eating all the veggies! And chocolates too no doubt ;o) |
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