Linaria, Chaenorhinum and Cymbalaria species - Toadflaxes

Linaria vulgaris - Common Toadflax

This has a soft, flexible stem and leaves which are slightly glaucous and is quite distinctive even without the flowers.

Linaria purpurea - Purple Toadflax

This has the flowers in longer spikes than the yellow L. vulgare and tends to be more branched. In Lanarkshire it is an established garden escape.

Cymbalaria is a different genus which grows mainly on walls.

Cymbalaria muralis - Ivy-leaved Toadflax

The common plant of old walls is distinctive and can usually be found in flower all year. It is trailing, hairless and often with a purplish tinge. The flowers are lilac with yellow or white palate. However there are white forms.

Cymbalaria pallida - Italian Toadflax

This has shortly-haired stems with similar flowers to Cymbalaria muralis but they are larger.

Chaenorhinum minus - Small Toadflax is a tiny plant often growing in gravel and easily overlooked.

Linaria vulgaris 2Sep12 NS6561 PW

Linaria vulgaris NS7948 1Aug2020 MP

Linaria vulgaris NS5671 13Aug2017 PW

Linaria purpurella NS7151 17Aug2017 PW

Linaria purpurea NS5959 1 June 2019 PW

Cymbalaria muralis NS6273 20Apr2019 PW

Cymbalaria muralis NS8643 23Aug17 PW

Both colour forms of Cymbalaria muralis side by side.

Cymbalaria muralis NT0233 02 June 2019 PW

Cymbalaria pallida 17Sep2017 NT0234 MP

Cymbalaria pallida NS5568 29July2019 PW

Cymbalaria pallida NS6160 1 June 2014

Chaenorhinum minus NS9335 15Jul2018 PW