Specimen collected in Offenbach, Germany, 08/2018
Specimen collected in Offenbach, Germany, 08/2018(Backlit)

Linaria vulgaris

Scientific Name
Linaria vulgaris
FAMILY
plantaginacea
LIFESPAN
perennial
BLOSSOM SYMMETRY
zygomorph
Common Name
Common toadflax
ORDER
lamiales
BLOSSOM COLOR
yellow
PHYLLOTAXIS
opposite

Linaria vulgaris, commonly known as common toadflax or butter-and-eggs, is a perennial wildflower native to Europe and Asia. It is recognized by its snapdragon-like yellow flowers with an orange “lip,” a color pairing that inspired the playful name “butter-and-eggs.” The genus name Linaria refers to its flax-like leaves, which distinguish it from many other roadside blooms. Its long nectar spurs make it especially suited to bumblebees, which are strong enough to pry open the flower. Thriving in dry, disturbed soils, Linaria vulgaris often appears along field edges and railways, where its cheerful, two-toned blossoms stand out sharply against their surroundings.

More Specimens

 Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, Botanica in Originali, 1733
Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, Botanica in Originali, 1733(Nature-print)