Nuttallanthus
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Nuttallanthus | ||||||||||||
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Nuttallanthus canadensis (Canada Toadflax)
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Nuttallanthus is a genus of three species of herbaceous annuals and perennials that was traditionally placed in the foxglove family Scrophulariaceae. Due to new genetic research, it has now been placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae. Nuttallanthus is native to North America, and was until recently included in a wider circumscription of the genus Linaria, a genus now considered restricted to the Old World.
The members of this genus are known in English as toadflax, a name shared with several other related genera. The scientific name honors Thomas Nuttall.
- Species
- Nuttallanthus canadensis (Canada Toadflax or Oldfield Toadflax)
- Nuttallanthus floridanus (Apalachicola Toadflax)
- Nuttallanthus texanus (Texas Toadflax)
Canada Toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis, syn. Linaria canadensis) is native to eastern North America, in southern Canada and the United States. It is a purple to blue, weedy species, which blooms early in the spring. It is an important nectar source for spring buildup of honeybees, because the plants are often so thick in fields, and they bloom so early.
Closely related genera include the Linaria (Eurasian toadflaxes), Antirrhinum (snapdragons) and Cymbalaria (ivy-leaved toadflaxes).