moth mullein

noun

a weedy, European mullein, Verbascum blattaria, of the figwort family, having lance-shaped leaves and loose spikes of white or yellow flowers.

Origin of moth mullein

First recorded in 1570–80; from its mothlike appearance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for moth mullein

Historical Examples of moth mullein

The moth-mullein is so called because its blossoms have the appearance of a number of delicate moths resting upon the stem.
The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits
Mary Elizabeth Parsons