Mullein was called candelabra by Roman soldiers, who dipped its stalks in tallow and burned them as torches. In England, where it went by the name of candlewick plant, its fibers were dried, separated, and twisted into candlewicks. Another name, hag's taper, refers to a superstition that mullein-wick candles were used by witches. During the last century, miners in the American West called it miner's candle. Some of mullein's names refer to its large, fuzzy leaves, which were used as poultices and placed in shoes as foot- warmer, Among these names: Our Lady's flannel, Adam flannels, old man’s flannel, velvet dock, blanket herb, and feltwort. Other names point to its use as a walking stick: Jacob's staff St. Peter's staff, beggar's stalk, golden rod, and Aaron's rod.
From Country garden Magazine