Plantaginaceae: Plantain Family — Snapdragon, Foxglove & Toadflax

Kellogg’s Snapdragon – Antirrhinum kelloggii

Blooms:

Apr–July

Plant Height:

7–80 cm

Flower Size:

Small

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Burned or disturbed areas

Notes:

This is an uncommon snapdragon, with wiry stems and a sprawling or vine-like growth habit.  Its beautiful flowers are similar to Blue Toadflax (Nuttalanthus texanus, see below), but they have no spur.  Also, their growth habits are quite distinct.

Oval-leaved Snapdragon – Antirrhinum ovatum

Blooms:

May–July

Plant Height:

10–60 cm

Flower Size:

Medium

Origin:

Native

Rare or endangered?

Yes – 4.2

Habitat:

Heavy adobe-clay soils on slopes, disturbed areas

Notes:

This annual plant has flowers similar in color to Sticky Snapdragon (Antirrhinum thompsonii, see below), but are also similar to certain Penstemon.  They grow in racemes, or individually in leaf axils.  The plant is glandular-hairy, with an erect but weak stem, often clinging to other plants or debris.  Leaves are < 5 cm, lanceolate to obovate in shape.  The Jepson Manual comments that this plant is abundant every 20–50 years.  Photographs reproduced by permission of Brian LeNeve

Sticky Snapdragon – Antirrhinum thompsonii

Blooms:

Apr–Aug

Plant Height:

30–150 cm

Flower Size:

Large clusters

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Open, dry, rocky or disturbed or burned areas

Notes:

Apart from the shape of the individual flowers, this could hardly look more different from Kellogg’s Snapdragon (Antirrhinum kelloggii, see above).  The plant is hairy, glandular, stout and sticky with tall spikes of pink flowers.  It is often perennial, developing a dense, almost shrubby appearance.  The flower spikes are “racemose”, producing flowers from the base of the spike upwards.  The tubular flowers have a tan-brown withered area on the lower lip.  Leaves are linear to lanceolate, < 6 cm in length.  Formerly named Antirrhinum multiflorum, name changed in 2020.

Foxglove – Digitalis purpurea

Blooms:

May–July

Plant Height:

up to 1.8 m

Flower Size:

Large clusters

Origin:

Western Europe

Invasive?

Yes – limited

Habitat:

Coastal, open woodland or disturbed areas

Notes:

This invasive plant is quite attractive, and is immediately recognizable with its tall spikes of pink-purple (or white) flowers.  They are long, bell-shaped, with darker spots on the inner surfaces.  Leaves are mostly basal, large and lanceolate.  This plant is the origin of a cardiac medicine, and is toxic if taken in excess.  Foxglove has become established in coastal areas, especially north of the Bay Area.  It is not common in Monterey county, but is spreading where it is found.  Photos #2-3 by CJH.

Foxglove
Foxglove

Sharp-leaved Fluellin – Kickxia elatine

Blooms:

June–Sept

Plant Height:

< 90 cm

Flower Size:

Medium

Origin:

Europe

Habitat:

Disturbed, open areas

Notes:

This has a slender stem, often trailing and much-branched.  Leaves are fuzzy, ovate to hastate, growing at intervals along the stem.  It has solitary, snapdragon-like flowers on long, straight pedicels.  Each flower has a narrow (8 mm) spur extending from the back.  The upper lip is purple and 2-lobed, the lower is 3-lobed and yellow.

Moroccan & Split-lip Toadflax – Linaria maroccana & bipartita

Blooms:

Dec–July

Plant Height:

10–30 cm

Flower Size:

Medium

Origin:

Mediterranean

Habitat:

Garden escape

Notes:

These Toadflaxes are commonly cultivated, and occasionally escape.  Both have linear leaves, a prominently swollen lower lip and a long, narrow spur.  Moroccan Toadflax (first 3 photos) has flowers that are reddish (occasionally pale violet), with the throat swelling red, yellow or white.  Split-lip Toadflax (last photo) has violet flowers, with the throat swelling white, or yellow with orange at its base.

Blue Toadflax – Nuttallanthus texanus

Blooms:

Mar–May

Plant Height:

10–60 cm

Flower Size:

Small

Origin:

Native

Habitat:

Grassland, dry slopes and waste places

Notes:

While less dramatic than the non-native toadflaxes, this has the same erect growth habit.  It has delicate bluish-purple flowers, each with a long (± 1 cm) pointed spur.  The upper lip is slightly lobed, while the lower lip is much larger, with a pale ridge in the center.