Just a couple things about this episode; the genus Linaria has been assigned to the European or Eurasian species of toadflax and Nuttallanthus is the genus for our North American toadflax…a whopping three species. Oh, and I suspect the common name toadflax is used for other plants as well, but why make things more confusing? Speaking of which, there are two species of toadflax in Arizona, but only one native. The other species is the exotic called butter and eggs or Linaria vulgaris. It sure is a pretty plant, looking like a bright yellow snapdragon, but no it’s a varmint. I yanked some up in the Chiricahua National Monument a few years ago. I was sure some passing tourists were going to turn me in, so I skedaddled before I was caught with an exotic weed.
Lemme see, is that more than a couple things? Well, one more; the botanical family Plantaginaceae makes me think of the royal dynasty Plantagenet… a good high school education is a terrible thing to waste.
The photos are mine and taken at Toadflax Acres.
