Scientific Family
Scrophulariaceae
Synonyms
Antirrhinum nuttallianum, A. nuttallianum subsp. nuttallianum
Other common names
Isisland snapdragon
Nuttall's snapdragon
violet snapdragon
violet toad's-mouth
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Biennial or annual
Height
To 12 inches, can be more
Riparian
No
Stems erect, simple or sparingly to sometimes diffusely branched, scrambling through adjacent plants with nearly horizontal, lateral branches; glandular-hairy throughout; flowers on vertical elongated stems, snapdragon-like, bluish-purple.
Plants sparingly branched, hairy, glandular; leaves opposite and rounded, reduced to bract-like in flower stalks; flowers variable in size, snapdragon-like, bluish-purple, yellow at opening; fruits capsules.
Habitat
Canyons, rocky areas, disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
4000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers on elongated stalks, 2-lipped, white blotches, sometimes darker purple veins, yellow hairs at opening (throat). Swollen at base, upper and lower lips erect, yellow hairs in throat, stamens in pairs; styles same length as stamens.
Flower color
Bluish-purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves <1 inch wide, to 1-1/2 inches long, reduced to rounded bracts in flower stalks; stems and leaves glandular-hairy. Flower stems can be vine-like.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit rounded; chambers unequal, splits open at 3 pores at tip, 1 in upper chamber, 2 in lower.
Fruit type
Capsule
Seeds very small, egg-shaped, brown.