Scrophulariaceae

V. speciosum Schrader, Hort. Gotting. 22, t. 16 (1809). Syn: V. longifolium DC, Fl. Fr. 6:414 (1815). Ic: Reichb., Ic. Fl. Germ. 20: t. 1646 (1861); Koktay in Ist. Üniv. Fen Fak. Mec. ser. B, 39(1): t. 3 (1974).
Biennial, 50-200 cm, with short adpressed, ± soft whitish or yellowish stellate-tomentose indumentum. Stem robust, distinctly angular, usually with numerous branches. Basal leaves lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, entire, rarely obscurely crenulate, 10-45 x 3-10 cm, petiole ± winged, 2-7 cm; cauline similar but smaller, upper ovate to suborbicular, acuminate to caudate, obtusely auriculate at base, usually undulate. Inflorescence with numerous, robust, erect-spreading branches, with congested clusters of 2- numerous flowers. Bracts broadly ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate. Pedicels to 12 mm; bracteoles small, lanceolate. Calyx 3-5 mm, lobes linear-lanceolate, acute. Corolla yellow, 20-30 cm diam., without pellucid glands, stellate-tomentose outside. Stamens 5, anthers reniform, filaments with whitish-yellow wool up to anthers. Capsule oblong-ovate, 4-7 x 3-4 mm, densely stellate-tomentose. 2n = 36. Fl. 6-9. Pinus forest, cornfields, dry places, steppe, s.1.-2500 m.
Described from material cultivated in C. Europe.
Turkey-in-Europe, N., C. & E. Anatolia. A1(E) Tekirdağ: Ganos Da., 800 m, A.Baytop (ISTE 13554)! A2(E) Istanbul: Gümüşpinar, A.Baytop (ISTE 11589)! A2(A) Kocaeli: 1 km from Gebze to Tuzla, 100 m, Hub.-Mor. 12179! A3 Bolu: Abant G., 1350 m, 25 ix 1950, H. Demiriz! A4 Kastamonu: Inebolu to Küre, 600 m, D. 21657! A5 Kastamonu: Tossia (Tosya), Giaurdagh (Gavur Da.), Sint. 1892:4842! A5/6 Samsun: Karadağ, Ladik, 1100 m, Tobey 1130! A7 Gümüşane: Artabir (Ertabil), Sint. 1894:7253. A8 Erzurum: Kop Da. Aşkale to Bayburt, 2300 m, T. Baytop (ISTE 14340)! A9 Kars: Sarikamiş to Soğuksu, 22 vii 1949, M.Heilbronn! Bl Çanakkale: 18 km from Yenice to Balya, 250 m, Hub.-Mor. 16950! B3 Eskişehir: Mihaliççik, 1500 m, D. 37199! B6 Sivas: 33 km S. of Zara, 1700 m, Sorger 69-38-22! B7 Tunceli: 4 km from Pülümür to Mutu, 1580 m, Hub.-Mor. 10625! B8 Erzurum: Aşkale, between Şegav and Meymansur, 17 vii 1949, H.Demiriz! B9 Bitlis: Nemrut Da. above Söğürt, 2100 m, D. 23560! B10 Ağri: Küçük Ağri Da. nr Serdar Bulak, 2420 m, H. Demiriz 1956:3370!
S.E. Europe, Transcaucasia, N. Iran. Closely related to V. inaequale (226); also near to V. cheiranthifolium (228).