Home › L › Linaria (From Linon Flax referring)

Linaria (From Linon Flax referring)

(from Linon, Flax; referring to the resemblance in the leaves). Toadflax. ORD. Scrophularineae. A large genus (about 150 species) of usually hardy herbs, rarely sub-shrubs, broadly dispersed through the extra-tropical Old World regions of the Northern hemisphere, one being found in extra-tropical North and South America. Flowers spicate or racemose, or solitary and axillary; corolla tube furnished with a spur at the base; palate more or less bearded, usually prominent at the throat, but sometimes depressed, and not closing the throat; upper lip erect, lower one trilobate. Leaves opposite or whorled, the uppermost often alternate. All the species of this genus are of easy culture in any moderately good, well-drained soil; the dwarfer plants are admirably adapted for the rock-garden, and for margins of borders. Propagated freely by divisions, in spring or autumn; or by seeds, sown on a light soil, during March or April.

L. aequitriloba (equally three-lobed). fl. purple; floriferous pedicels nearly as long as the leaves; calyx segments linear-lanceolate. June. l. mostly opposite, small, cordate-reniform, three (rarely five) lobed; lobes short, round, very shortly mucronate. Sardinia, &c., 1829. A small evergreen. (B. M. 2941.) L. alpina (alpine).* fl. bluish-violet, with a rich golden centre, disposed in sub-capitate racemes; spur equal in length to the corolla, sometimes straight, and sometimes incurved, acute. Summer and autumn. l. linear or linear-lanceolate, thickish, four in a whorl. h. 6in. Alps of Europe. An exceedingly pretty little herbaceous perennial, forming dense compact tufts; it is one of the best for growing on rockwork. (F.d. S. 2128.) L. bipartita (twice-parted).* fl. violet-purple, disposed in loose racemes; palate orange-coloured, whitish at the base; spur arched, scarcely exceeding the corolla. June to September. l. linear or linear-lanceolate, flat, alternate or verticillate. h. 1ft. Portugal, 1815. Annual. (S.B.F.G. 30.) L. canadensis (Canadian). fl. violet, loosely racemose; pedicels erect, not longer than the curved corolla spur; calyx segments oblong-lanceolate, acute, shorter than the corolla tube. July. l. remote, linear. h. 6in. to 2ft. North America, 1812. Annual. (B. M. 3473.) L. crassifolia (thick-leaved).* fl. pale but bright blue-purple, with a yellow palate and red-purple throat, large. l. ovate, acutish, glabrous, thickish. h. 3in. to 6in. South-west Europe. (B. M. 5733, under name of L. origanifolia crassifolia.) L. Cymbalaria (Cymbalaria).* Mother of Thousands, fl. pale blue or lilac, small, with short spurs, which are a little recurved. Spring to late autumn. l. mostly alternate, cordately-reniform, five to seven-lobed; lobes rounded or cuneiform, mucronulate. Branches prostrate, creeping, and rooting. Roots rhizomatous, emitting fibres. Europe (Britain). A very pretty and well-known perennial climber, of which there are two desirable varieties; one with pure white flowers, and another with variegated leaves. (Sy. En. B. 955.) L. dalmatica (Dalmatian).*fl. yellow, large, few, and loose, at the summits of the branches; spur straight, much shorter than the corolla. Summer. l. oblong-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute. Branches erect or decumbent, densely clothed with leaves. h. 3ft. to 4ft. South-eastern Europe, &c. 1731. A handsome and vigorous-growing perennial. (B. R. 1683.) L. genistaefolia (Genista-leaved). fl. pale yellow, paniculately racemose; spur rather straight, equal in length to the corolla. Summer and autumn. l. lanceolate, acute, three to five-nerved, somewhat stem-clasping. Stem branched. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Europe, Asia Minor, 1704. Perennial. (B. M. 2183.) L. hepaticaefolia (Hepatica-leaved).* fl. lilac-purple, with the pedicels longer than the leaves; calyx segments linear-acute; spur shorter than the tube. Summer. l. cordate-reniform, three to five-lobed, glabrous. Corsica. A very pretty floriferous perennial, 1in. to 2in. high; it forms a neat dense carpet for rockwork, & c.

L. heterophylla (variable-leaved). fl., corolla pale straw-colour, 1in. long; calyx longer than the pedicel; racemes usually branched at base. July. l. scattered, spreading, 1in. to 2in. long, narrow-linear or acicular, obtuse, rarely narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, rather fleshy, one-nerved. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Marocco, 1871. Annual. (B. M. 6041.) L. macroura (long-tailed).*fl. yellow, with a more intense-coloured villous palate, large, disposed in long, straight, dense racemes; spur straight, length of corolla or a little longer. Summer and autumn. l. linear, flat, glaucous. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Orient, 1822. Plant erect, branched or simple. L. maritima (maritime). fl. pale yellow, with an orange palate. spur as long as corolla. Summer. l. linear, scattered or sometimes whorled, glaucous, glabrous. h. 6in. to 12in. South-west Europe. Annual. L. maroccana (Marocco). fl. bright violet-purple, disposed in long racemes. June. l. linear, those of the primary shoots whorled. h. 9in. Marocco, 1872. Annual. (B. M. 5983.) L. origanifolia (Origanum-leaved). fl. bluish-violet, with a yellow throat, alternate, distant, forming a loose raceme. Summer and autumn. l. oblong or obovate, on short petioles; lower ones opposite, upper ones alternate. South-west Europe, 1785. Plant ascending, annual.

L. o. crassifolia (thick-leaved). A synonym of L. crassifolia. L. purpurea (purple).*fl. bluish-purple, mouth of corolla bearded with white hairs along the edges, tube striped with purple, disposed in loose elongated racemes; spur arched, length of corolla. July to September. l. linear or linear-lanceolate; lower ones four to nine in a whorl, upper ones three in a whorl. h. 1ft. to 3ft. South Europe, 1648 (naturalised in Britain). Plant glabrous, branched, erect. A good perennial for growing on old walls, &c. (B. M. 99; Sy. En. B. 960.) L. reticulata (reticulated).* fl. deep purple, reticulately veined; palate copper-coloured or yellow, marked with deep purple lines; spur shorter than the corolla; raceme crowded, short, downy. tapering upwards. May to July. l. linear, channelled; lower ones verticillate, upper ones scattered. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Portugal, 1788. Annual. (B. H. ii. 48.) The variety known as aurea purpurea is a very distinct and pretty novelty, with deep rich purple and orange flowers.

L. sagittata (arrow-shape-leaved). fl. yellow, axillary, solitary, on capillary pedicels often exceeding the leaves; sepals lanceolate, acute; corolla 1 1/2in. long, lips very broad. June. l. scattered, distant, petioled, 1in. long, lanceolate-oblong or linear, with a hastate base, quite entire. Stems very slender, 6ft. to 10ft. long. Marocco, 1871. Perennial. (B. M. 6060.) L. saxatilis (rock). fl. yellow, palate usually marked with two fulvous spots or lines, disposed in sub-capitate heads; spurshort, acute. August. l. thickish; lower ones four in a whorl, almost lanceolate; upper ones alternate, linear-lanceolate. Spain, 1819. Plant clothed with clammy down, procumbent. A pretty trailing perennial.

L. spartea (Spartium-like).* fl. deep yellow, on long pedicels; spur straight; raceme few-flowered, glabrous, or clothed with short clammy down. Summer and autumn. l. linear-lanceolate, erect; lower ones often three in a whorl, upper ones alternate. Spain, &c., 1772. A pretty, upright, branched annual. L. triornithophora (three-birds-bearing).* fl. purple, with a yellow palate, 1in. long, usually three or four in a whorl; tube inflated and striated. June to September. l. lanceolate, acute, quite glabrous. Branches erect, decumbent at top. Portugal and Spain, 1710. A desirable and pretty perennial. (F. d. S. 2297.) L. tristis (sad). fl. yellow, with a dark purple or brown mouth, approximate, sometimes nearly opposite; spur thick, striated, arched at the base, about equal in length to the corolla. July and August. l. linear or linear-oblong; lower ones three or four in a whorl, upper ones opposite or alternate. Portugal and Spain, 1722. A very pretty decumbent annual. (B. M. 5827.) L. vulgaris (common). Common Toadflax. fl. pale yellow or citron, disposed in dense spicate racemes; palate copper-coloured; spur curved, about equal in length to the corolla. Spring to autumn. l. linear or linear-lanceolate. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Europe (Britain), North Asia. A handsome and erect native perennial. (Sy. En. B. 962.) The variety Peloria, instead of having one spur, has five; the corolla has become regular through excess of irregularity--a condition more frequently met with in L. vulgare than in any other species; it is constant under cultivation, but is rare in the wild state.