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