Yellow Toadflax
Linaria vulgaris
| Common Name: | Yellow toadflax (a.k.a. Butter-and-eggs, Ramsted, Flaxweed, Wild snapdragon, Eggs-and-bacon, Jacob's ladder) |
| Scientific Name: | Linaria vulgaris |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Growth Form: | Herb |
| Native Range: | |
| Alien Range: | Atlantic and Pacific coasts |
| Introduction: | Yellow toadflax was introduced by early settlers for medicinal purposes. It escaped cultivation. It spreads by seed and creeping roots. |
| Description: | ·Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire margins, pale- or grey-green. Linear in shape, slightly wider at base. 2-6 cm (1-3 in.) long, 2-4 mm wide.
·Stem: Erect, smooth unbranched, many leaves. 30-90 cm (12-36 in.) tall. Pale green. ·Flowers: Yellow, cone shaped (like snapdragon), 2-3.5 cm (1-2 in.) long. Fused petals and sepals form two lips with orange on lower lip. Cluster vertically at the tip of stems. Present May to October. ·Fruit: Round capsule with two seed containing cells. Seeds 1.5-2mm long, brown or black, disc-shaped with wings. |
| Threats: | Yellow toadflax is a weed of untended areas. |
| Fun Facts: | Yellow toadflax had many uses for early settlers. The juice, when mixed with milk, could be used as fly repellent and a tea made from the leaves was used to treat constipation. |
Plant in bloom