Group+6+page

__**Plant Identity**__ Group: Dicot Herbs Scientific Name & Family: //Verbascum thapsus// (//Scrophulariaceae//) Common Name: Common Mullein __**Location & Habitat**__ This plant was found on the edge of a steep riverbank in Silver Creek Park. Nationally, it grows just about everywhere, aside form portions of the upper great plains. It thrives on direct sunlight, intolerant of shade, and requires at least 3-6 inches of annual precipitation. In general, common mullein can be found in almost any open area from fields and meadows, to open woods and disturbed sites. It is usually found growing in sandy soils, but is tolerant of other soil types as well. An invasive species from Europe, it has the ability to overrun an area due to its adaptation to many conditions, and because of the fact that it grows more vigorously than many native plants. Once a population of common mullein is established, it is extremely difficult to erradicate. __**Description of Plant**__ The common mullein is distinct in that it has a full, soft hair or felt-like coating on its leaves and stems. The leaves are dark green to blue-ish in color. Stems are erect and unbranched, and grow from taproot and fibrous root systems. First year plants grow low to the ground in a rosette that emerges up from a taproot. Leaves are 4-12inches in length, and 1-5inches in width. The second year, mature flowering plants are produced, and grow up to 5-10feet tall. These errect herbs have a conspicuous flowering stalk with leaves growing radially and progressively smaller near the top. It produces many dense, five petaled yellow flowers at the apex of the shoot in late summer. Then, in early October, from 100,000 to 180,000 seeds are seeds are produce per plant, and are spread mechanically. __**Interesting Facts**__ - A mosquito larvae insecticide has been developed from common mullein in the form of a methanol extract. - This plant was used in teas and ointments, broughten over by European settlers for treating burns, rashes, earaches, coughs and diarrhea, and was smoked due to its properties as an effective respiratory stimulant for lung diseases. __**References**__ 1. Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group. [] 2. Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide. http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/vesth.htm 3. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. [] 4. Common Plants of Wisconsin. [] __**Plant Identity**__ Group: Gymnosperms Scientific Name & Family: Thuja occidentalis (Cupressaceae) Common Name(s): White Cedar, aborvitae __**Location & Habita**____**t**__ -Uplands: seepage areas, limestone cliffs. boulder Fields. -Lowlands: swamps, stream banks, lakeshores. -Thuja occientalis also needs a neutral pH. __**Description of Plant**__ -Age up to 800 years -Trunk divides into 2 or more secondary trunk of equal size -Fruit a cone -Red/brown to gray, diamond shaped bark, leaves scale like, main shoots, 1/4" inch long with long points, lateral shoots are flattened, 1/8" inch long with short points, -Flowers females green with 4 to 6 scales, males are green tipped with brown
 * __Group 6__ - Nathan, Jake**
 * Plant 1: //Verbascum thapsus//**
 * Plant 2: Thuja occidentalis**

__**Interesting Facts**__ -Thuja, from Theophrastus' name for a resinour, fragrant wooded tree -occidentalis, from the Latin "of the West" __**References**__ 1. Common Plants of Wisconsin. [] 2. Thuja occidentalis __http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/trees/thujaocc.html__
 * -**Once native to Europe, it was doomed to extinction by its inability to escape the advancing ice sheets of the Ice Age.