105 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS. 



Yellow Toadflax (Lmaria vulgaris). 



We have already dealt with one species of Toadflax (see 

 page 33), and although in habit the Ivy-leaved is altogether 

 unlike the Yellow Toadflax, their flowers will be found to have 

 the same structure, and we must ask the reader to refer back 

 for the description. The Yellow Toadflax (L. vulgaris) 

 immediately reminds one of the Snapdragon (Anterrhinum\ 

 to which its raceme of flowers bears close resemblance ; but 

 the flowers themselves will be found to differ from Snapdragon 

 in having a long tail or spur. This spur is a hollow tube in 

 which honey is secreted to attract long-tongued bees, in 

 order that they may fertilize the ovules. The plant has a 

 slender rootstock, which creeps extensively underground, 

 branching and sending up many stems. If these get into a 

 garden the owner is at first delighted with the neat, bright 

 appearance of the tufts of linear leaves ; but by-and-by he finds 

 it has taken entire possession of the bed, and become extremely 

 difficult to extirpate. It is abundant in hedges and waste 

 places, flowering from June till October. Other species are : 



I. Round-leaved Toadflax (L. spitria] with egg-shaped or 

 round leaves and trailing branches : hairy. Corolla yellow, 

 with purple throat and spur greatly curved. Annual. Sandy 

 cornfields. July to October. 



II. Sharp-pointed Toadflax (L. elatine\ with spear-shaped 

 leaves and trailing hairy branches. Corolla yellow, upper lip 

 purple beneath. Spur straight. Annual. Dry, chalky and 

 gravelly cornfields. July to October. 



III. Pale-blue Toadflax (L. repens). Perennial. Smooth. 

 Rootstock creeping. Leaves narrowly lance-shaped. Corolla 

 violet, with darker lines and yellow palate : spur blunt. Waste 

 places, rare. July to September. 



IV. Small Toadflax (L. minor]. Annual. Downy. Leaves 

 narrowly oblong. Corolla but slightly larger than the calyx, 



