Ontario Weeds: Toadflax
Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Stems and Roots
- Flowers and Fruit
- Habitat
- Similar Species
- Related Links
Name: Toadflax, Linaria vulgaris
Mill.,
Other Names: linaire vulgaire, Butter-and-eggs,
Common toadflax, Yellow toadflax, Wild snapdragon, linaire commune
Family: Figwort or Snapdragon Family (Scrophulariaceae)
General Description: Perennial, reproducing
by seed and by extensively creeping roots which produce new shoots
and form very dense patches.
Photos and Pictures
Stems & Roots: Stems erect, 20-90cm
(8-36in.) high, usually branched in the upper part, smooth and hairless;
leaves alternate (1 per node) but often so numerous and crowded
they appear opposite (2 per node), or whorled (3 or more per node),
very narrow.
Flowers & Fruit: Flowers in racemes
at ends of stems and branches, each flower short-stalked; sepals
5, narrow; corolla 2-3cm (4/5-1¼in.) long, of 5 united petals,
yellow with an orange spot on the lower lip, very irregular with
a long spur at the lower end and 2-lipped at the top, the upper
lip with 2 small lobes, the lower lip with 3 larger lobes, the flower
resembling the cultivated snapdragon in shape; seedpods egg-shaped,
containing many dark brown or black, flat, winged seeds. Flowers
from June to autumn.
Habitat: Toadflax is widely distributed
throughout Ontario, occurring in many habitats including roadsides,
fence lines, waste places, pastures, edges of woods, and cultivated
fields.
Similar Species: It is distinguished by
its perennial spreading root system; its short, smooth stems with
numerous, alternate, smooth, very narrow leaves with watery juice
(contrasts with Leafy spurge and Cypress spurge) and its bright
yellow and orange snapdragon-like flowers, the lips of which will
open if the sides of the flower are gently squeezed between thumb
and finger. The seedpods of Toadflax are often very warty in appearance
due to an insect which lives inside eating the developing seeds.
Related Links
... on general Weed
topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA
Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA
Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
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