Is it possible to decide which from these pictures? The plant was at least two meters tall and had multiple flower stalks. The definitive guide to Swiss flora pretty much limits the choice to these two; but, it seems to say that the only way to tell the difference is to measure the size of the flower. Please note the honey bee on the first image. side questions is stalk the right word? what does the L. after the name mean, I see it on nearly all flower names ? Thanks in advance Charles
I'll address the side questions: 1) Stalk would be considered fairly colloquial -- it's not scientifically precise, but it is certainly more than adequate for communicating what you mean. To give examples a scientific description, the Flora of China describes the inflorescence of Verbascum thapsus as a cylindric spicate panicle. MissouriPlants uses an indeterminate dense terminal spike. 2) L. represents the author of the plant name, or the person who first described it scientifically in a valid publication. In the case of L., it is unsurprising you come across it so many times given your location -- it is an abbreviation for Linnaeus.
