Linaria is a genus of almost 200 species of flowering plants, one of several related groups commonly called toadflax. They are annuals and herbaceous perennials, and the largest genus in the Antirrhineae tribe of the plantain family Plantaginaceae.
Taxonomy
Linaria was traditionally placed in the family Scrophulariaceae. Phylogenetic analysis has now placed it in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae.
Closely related genera include Nuttallanthus (American toadflaxes, recently split from Linaria), Antirrhinum (snapdragons) and Cymbalaria (ivy-leaved toadflaxes).
Cultivation
Several Linaria species are cultivated as garden plants, and some are regarded as having a weedy habit.
Common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris), a European species which is widely introduced elsewhere and grows as a common weed in some areas.
Balkan toadflax or Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica, syn. L. genistifolia subsp. dalmatica), a native of southeast Europe that has become a weed in parts of North America.
Purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea), a species native to the Mediterranean region grown as a garden plant for its dark purple or pink flowers. The version with purple flowers can be mistaken for lavender. Spreads readily.
Pale toadflax (Linaria repens), a species from western Europe similar to L. purpurea, but with paler flowers.
Alpine toadflax (Linaria alpina), purple flowers with orange (or purple) lobes in the center.
Annual toadflax or Moroccan toadflax (Linaria maroccana), the flower has five lobes arranged into two lips with a spur at the end, often purple with white.
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus Linaria:
