Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)


Category A Weed

Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)

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Stem

  • Multiple stems up to 3 ft. tall; woody base; often branched near top; sometimes hairy

    Leaves

    • Alternate; strap-like (linear), 1-2.5 in. long, 0.1-0.2 in wide and lack hair (glabrous) to sparsely hairy; NO leaf stems (petioles); DO NOT clasp the stem; edges (margins) are smooth

      Flower

      • Snapdragon-like; 0.5-1.5 in. long, bright yellow to white with an orange bearded throat and a yellow spur; clustered along upper part of stem

      • Seed capsules round with two chambers, 0.3-0.5 in. diameter, contain many seeds

        Root

        • Creeping root system

          Other

          • Grows best in coarse soils; often infests rangelands, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur in Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt and White Pine counties

          • Perennial; reproduces by seed and creeping roots

            Toxic to livestock if ingested in large quantities; historically used as a medicine, a dye and an ornamental

          • Also known as "butter and eggs"

            Control

            • Mechanical control (mowing, burning or tillage) is NOT effective

            • Several biological control agents are available

            • Apply dicamba, 2,4-D or picloram before bloom; imazapic or picloram to fall regrowth orshortly after first killing frost

              Images

              Yellow Toadflax Infestation 215x150
              Infestation
              Yellow Toadflax Flower 215x150
              Flower
              Yellow Toadflax Root 215x150
              Roots
              Yellow Toadflax Leaves Stem 215x150
              Leaves
                Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide
              Nevada Noxious Weed Guide