Verbascum thapsus is a species of mullein native to Europe, northern
Africa and Asia, and introduced in the Americas and Australia. It is a
hairy biennial plant that can grow to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall or
more. Its small yellow flowers are densely grouped on a tall stem, which
bolts from a large rosette of leaves. It grows in a wide variety of
habitats, but prefers well-lit disturbed soils, where it can appear soon
after the ground receives light, from long-lived seeds that persist in
the soil seed bank. It is a common weedy plant that spreads by
prolifically producing seeds, but rarely becomes aggressively invasive,
since its seed require open ground to germinate. It is a very minor
problem for most agricultural crops, since it is intolerant of shade
from other plants and unable to survive tilling. It is widely used for
herbal remedies with emollient and astringent properties. It is known to
possess anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, antiviral, antifungal,
antibacterial, expectorant, and analgesic properties. It is recommended
for coughs and related problems, but also used in topical applications
against a variety of skin problems. The plant was also used to make dyes
and torches.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbascum_thapsus>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1649:
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland: Oliver Cromwell's New Model
Army ended the Siege of Drogheda, took over the town and massacred its
garrison.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Drogheda>
1814:
The Battle of Plattsburgh ended Britain's final invasion of the
northern states during the War of 1812.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Plattsburgh>
1893:
On the opening day of the first Parliament of the World's
Religions in Chicago, Swami Vivekananda introduced Hinduism to the
United States.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivekananda>
1914:
During the First World War, the Australian Naval and Military
Expeditionary Force invaded German New Guinea, winning the Battle of
Bita Paka.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bita_Paka>
2012:
Garment factories in the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore
caught fire, leaving 315 dead.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Pakistan_garment_factory_fires>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
in memoriam:
In memory (of); as a memorial.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_memoriam>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Do not flinch from experiences that might destroy your
beliefs. The thought you cannot think controls you more than thoughts
you speak aloud. Submit yourself to ordeals and test yourself in fire.
Relinquish the emotion which rests upon a mistaken belief, and seek to
feel fully that emotion which fits the facts. If the iron approaches
your face, and you believe it is hot, and it is cool, the Way opposes
your fear. If the iron approaches your face, and you believe it is cool,
and it is hot, the Way opposes your calm. Evaluate your beliefs first
and then arrive at your emotions. Let yourself say: “If the iron is
hot, I desire to believe it is hot, and if it is cool, I desire to
believe it is cool.”
--Eliezer Yudkowsky
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Eliezer_Yudkowsky>