The mullen plant is an invasive plant but has been in North America for so long, some people consider it a native plant. It’s ability to produce seeds, about 200,000 per plant, and the ability of the seeds to remain in the soil dormant, up to 100 years, make it a very hardy and hard to eradicate plant.
The other interesting aspect of this plant is that it often displays fasciation – the abnormal growth of the plant. This specimen was from out above Kamloops lake and the mullen are doing well there owing to a forest fire that burned way too hot – causing a great deal of damage to the sensitive topsoil. Normal fire action in the area, had little effect as it would burn through quickly and the soils would survive.
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