Butter and Eggs Herb

I noticed this plant growing against the building at the Ferry Terminal where I'm still doing security work. Its a useful local herb used in salved for skin conditions and a weak tea is good for a laxative and diuretic . WARNING-Remember, when using herbs, only a small pinch if not used before!

Butter and Eggs Herb- link

                                                                 (Latin- Linaria vulgaris)

Linaria vulgaris (Common Toadflax,[Yellow Toadflax, or Butter-and-eggs) is a species of toadflax (Linaria), native to most of Europe and northern Asia, from the United Kingdom south to Spain in the west, and east to eastern Siberia and western China. It has also been introduced and is now common in North America.

Growth-

It is a perennial plant with short spreading roots, erect to decumbent stems 15–90 cm high, with fine, threadlike, glaucous blue-green leaves 2–6 cm long and 1–5 mm broad. The flowers are similar to those of the snapdragon, 25–33 mm long, pale yellow except for the lower tip which is orange, borne in dense terminal racemes from mid summer to mid autumn. The fruit is a globose capsule 5–11 mm long and 5–7 mm broad, containing numerous small seeds.

Ecology-

Linaria vulgaris in a meadow

The plant is widespread on ruderal spots, along roads, in dunes, and on disturbed and cultivated land.

Because the flower is largely closed by its underlip, pollination requires strong insects such as bees and bumblebees (Bombus species)

(link-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linaria_vulgaris)