toadflax

American  

[tohd-flaks] / ˈtoʊdˌflæks /

noun

1. a common European plant, Linaria vulgaris, of the figwort family, having narrow leaves and showy yellow-and-orange flowers, naturalized as a weed in the U.S.

2. any plant of the same genus.

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toadflax British  

/ ˈtəʊdˌflæks /

noun

1. Also called: butter-and-eggs.  any of various scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Linaria, esp L. vulgaris, having narrow leaves and spurred two-lipped yellow-orange flowers

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Etymology

Origin of toadflax

First recorded in 1570–80; toad + flax

Example Sentences

Dalmatian toadflax and its cousin, yellow toadflax, came to the United States from southern Europe and Asia hundreds of years ago.

From Washington Times • Jun. 3, 2017

And no one’s sure which weevil might take on the hybrid toadflax.

From Washington Times • Jun. 3, 2017

We’ve since discovered that while Mecinus janthiniformis likes Dalmatian toadflax, we need Mecinus janthinus weevils to fight yellow toadflax.

From Washington Times • Jun. 3, 2017

Wild licorice, fireweed, hawkweed, bastard toadflax and littleleaf pussytoes created a carpet underfoot.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2016

Ivy trailed over it and the valerian and creeping mauve toadflax.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams