#common toadflax

02/08/2023-Spider before bed last night, views and flowering including three different shades of buddleia at home in some powerful after/between heavy showers sunshine tonight, enchanting scenes of sunlit raindrops on the window, a lovely rainbow and a young Goldfinch enjoyed again on the balcony feeders which was nice.

Kortvinget nymfetæge (Nabis flavomarginatus)

Fouragerende på Almindelig torskemund (Linaria vulgaris).

Broad Damsel Bug (Nabis flavomarginatus)

Linaria vulgaris, Plantaginaceae

With its interesting and attractive racemes of yellow flowers, common toadflax reminds of a smaller snapdragon (Anthirrhinum majus), but unlike its showier relative within the same family, it seems much easier to encounter it growing as a weed or among wildflowers than in cultivation. Native to Europe, temperate Asia and naturalised in North America, this species prefers a sunny spot on well-draining, preferably alkaline soil, so here in Scotland I often find it growing in the gravel on roadsides whereas I used to find it in more diverse locations in Northern Italy (in the photos above you can see it in both countries). 

30/10/24-Long-bodied Cellar spider at home this evening, Black-tailed Godwits, Black-headed Gulls, Teal, Lapwings and Oystercatcher and view with nice reflections at Titchfield Haven on Sunday and phone photos of wood avens at the Weirs and ivy-leaved toadflax near St. Thomas Church in Winchester today.

Common Toadflax

The common toadflax is a yellow-flowering plant native to Europe, Siberia and Central Asia. It usually grows alongside roads and on disturbed and cultivated land. The yellow flowers have a similar appearance to the snapdragon and grow up to 25-33 mm (0.98-1.30 in). The petals are a pale yellow colour with an orange tip. The stems grow to anywhere between 15 and 90 cm (6-35 in) and produce fine green leaves.

Bumblebees are attracted to common toadflax flowers, which tend to bloom from mid-summer to mid-autumn. The bees are essential for pollination and the plant is a food source for several insects, including moths and butterflies.

Due to its ability to grow between cracks, on cultivated land and in man-made habitats, toadflax is often considered a weed. Yet, the plant has proved useful in folk medicine, serving as a laxative and diuretic when used in tea, and providing relief from piles when made into an ointment.

Common toadflax

Linaria vulgaris

Aka. Yellow toadflax, butter-and-eggs, brideweed, bridewort, butter haycocks, bread and butter, bunny haycocks, bunny mouths, calf's mouth, continental weed, dead man's bones, devil's flax, devil's flowers, doggies, dragons bushes, eggs and bacon, false flax, flaxweed, fluellen, gall weed, gall wort, impudent lawyer, Jacob's ladder, lion's mouth, monkey flower, yellow rod,

Toadflax is native to Eurasia but is now common in North America. It likes disturbed land and dunes. It's a food source for many insects.

Toadflax was used as a laxative and diuretic. It was used to treat dropsy, jaundice, skin disease and hemorrhoids. A "tea" made with milk was used as an insecticide.

Toadflax is grown for cut flowers

Sources

Wikipedia Linaria vulgaris