Hello all. This is my first post on this forum. I’m trying to identify an interesting-looking plant I’ve noticed recently and any help I can get would be greatly appreciated. Location: Toms River, NJ, USA Date: 9.1.21 Hardiness zone: 7a (0 to 5°F/-17.8 to -15°C) Environment: sandy soil; about 3 miles (4.2 km) from a brackish bay. Found growing at the edge (more light?) of a road running along a forrest primarily of scrub oak and pine trees. The plant is about 2-3 ft tall (61-91 cm). Leaves appear light green, ovulate(?) in shape, smooth edges. The most striking feature to my eye is the spike-like flower stalk at the top of the plant that appears composed of very tightly packed, hard seed pods that appear to be the dried remnants of the flowers which are yellow when in bloom. The spike-like flower stalks appear to vary in length from 3-4 cm for the lower ones up to about 30cm in length for the top-most spike. I will try to upload pictures. Can anyone identify this plant for me? Thanks.
I think it's mullein, maybe Verbascum thapsus, see US Wildflower - Common Mullein, Great Mullein, Cowboy Toilet Paper, Flannel-plant - Verbascum thapsus (uswildflowers.com) and Common Mullein (Rutgers NJAES)
