Common Toadflax is a
native
perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in hedgerows, stony ground and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 60cm.
Common Toadflax is sometimes more descriptively called 'Yellow Toadflax' or 'Butter-and-Eggs', after its flower colouring. In the Middle Ages, it was known as 'Wild Snapdragon' as it looks similar to the garden snapdragon. The name 'Toadflax' comes from the toad-like mouth formed from the two-lipped structure of its flowers and the plant's narrow, pointed, flax-like leaves.
Botanic classification and naming: Common Toadflax is a member of the Plantain (Plantaginaceae) family. The genus name
'Linaria' identifies the plant as a Toadflax and its species name 'vulgaris' means 'common species'.
Benefits: Pollinated by Bumble bees. Caterpillars of the Marbled Clover and Toadflax Brocade moths feeds on flowers and seed pods of this plant.
Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.
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