Nuttallanthus canadensis

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Toadflax-166f.jpg

|genus = Nuttallanthus

|species = canadensis

|status = G5

|status_system = TNC

|status_ref = {{cite web |title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139339/Nuttallanthus_canadensis |website=explorer.natureserve.org |access-date=27 October 2022}}

|authority = (L.) D.A.Sutton

|synonyms = {{Species list|

Antirrhinum canadense|L.|

Linaria canadensis|(L.) Dumort.

}}

}}

Nuttallanthus canadensis, the blue toadflax, Canada toadflax, or old-field toadflax, is a species of Nuttallanthus in the family Plantaginaceae, native to eastern North America from Ontario east to Nova Scotia and south to Texas and Florida.{{GRIN | accessdate = 19 January 2018}}USDA Plants Profile: [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=NUCA Nuttallanthus canadensis]

Description

It is an annual or biennial plant growing to {{convert|25|–|80|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall, with slender, erect flowering stems. The leaves are slender, {{convert|15|–|30|mm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1|–|2.5|mm|in|abbr=on|2}} broad. The flowers are purple to off-white, {{convert|10|–|15|mm|in|abbr=on}} long, appearing from mid spring to late summer.Huxley, A, ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. {{ISBN|0-333-47494-5}}

Distribution and habitat

It is grown as an ornamental plant in its native area. It has been introduced to western North America and Europe, and is now locally naturalized, from Washington south to California, and also in Russia. It typically grows in bare areas and grassland.

Ecology

The plant is a nectar source for bees and butterflies. It supports the larvae of the common buckeye. Leaves of the plant are also a food source for caterpillars.{{Cite web|title=Nuttallanthus canadensis (Blue Toadflax, Canadian Toadflax, Toad-flax) {{!}} North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox|url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nuttallanthus-canadensis/|access-date=2021-12-30|website=plants.ces.ncsu.edu}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • {{cite book | author=Blanchan, Neltje | author-link=Neltje Blanchan | title=Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and Their Insect Visitors. | url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3003 | year=2002 | publisher=Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation}}