SNAPDRAGON
Antirrhinum majus
Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae] 
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Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae]
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flower
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petals
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| 22nd Aug 2007, Llanfairfechan, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| Found a niche atop a wall beside spent Navelwort, opposite habitation. Leaves in pairs up the stem, almost whirl-like. |
| 16th June 2010, Colwyn Bay, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| Flowers mauve to red with two orange bulges. Flowers have two lips which are snapped shut, but can be prised open, whereupon they will snap shut again when a finger is withdrawn. |
| 16th June 2010, Colwyn Bay, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| Although two-lipped, there are several frilly skirts on the lower half, and a fancy 'hat' on the upper half. |
| 22nd Aug 2007, Llanfairfechan, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| Where other toadflaxes such as Common Toadflax have a spur mostly hidden on the lower half, Snadragons have a pouch instead, conered in hairs. The five sepals also have stubby hairs, less so the stems. |
| 16th June 2010, Colwyn Bay, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| One and a half flowers in this photo. |
| 22nd Aug 2007, Llanfairfechan, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| The leaves are narrow lanceolate, but wider than those of Purple Toadflax. |
| 22nd Aug 2007, Llanfairfechan, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| An old seed amongst much newer as-yet un-opened flower buds. |
| 22nd Aug 2007, Llanfairfechan, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
| New branches growing from an old stem. The leaves are not as long in comparison to their width when young. |
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Not to be confused with : Dragon's Teeth or Dragon Arum [plants with similar names] Slight resemblance to the related : Common Toadflax except that is yellow, and with Purple Toadflax, but that is deep purple almost blue and has much smaller flowers. It doesn't grow as tall as either of these two, barely exceeding a foot in height. The Toadflaxes are in the Genus Linaria whereas Snapdragon is alone in the Genus Antirrhinum. Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature : Much more likely to be found growing in or near someone's garden than growing wild. Garden varieties are available in a great many different and attractive bi-colours. Children love prising the two lips apart and putting their fingers in the Snapdragons mouth then letting it snap shut as they withdraw them.
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BSBI maps
 Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) |
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Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae]
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