dwarf snapdragon

not listed

NNA - Not applicable

SNA - Not applicable

not listed

Dwarf snapdragon is an erect, annual forb that rises from a taproot. On railroad ballast and in waste places it is commonly 3″ to 11″ tall. In moister, more favorable conditions it can reach 16″ in height.

The stems are erect or ascending, usually branched near the base, and often zigzag. They are usually moderately to densely covered with white, glandular hairs. Sometimes they are nearly hairless.

The lowermost leaves are opposite, middle and upper stem leaves are alternate. Lower leaves have leaf stalks (petioles), middle and upper leaves are stalkless or have very short petioles. The leaf blades are linear to narrowly lance-shaped or inversely lance-shaped, 3 ⁄16″ to 13 ⁄16″ long, and 1 ⁄32″ to ⅛″ wide. They are tapered at the base and rounded or bluntly pointed at the tip. The upper and lower surfaces are moderately covered with glandular hairs. They are not leathery, and are somewhat clammy to the touch due to the glandular hairs. Only the midvein is apparent. The margins are untoothed and moderately covered with glandular hairs.

The inflorescence is single flowers rising from the upper and middle leaf axils. The flowers are on ascending, hairy, ⅛″ to ½″ long stalks (pedicels). Each pedicel is subtended by a short, leaf-like, linear appendage (bract).

Each flower is 5 ⁄16″to 7 ⁄16″ long including the spur. There are 5 sepals, 5 petals, 4 stamens, and 1 style. The sepals are purplish-green to green. They are united at the base into a short calyx tube then separated nearly to the base into 5 lobes. The lobes are linear to narrowly lance-shaped and 1 ⁄16″ to ⅛″ long, the upper ones longer than the lower. They are covered with glandular hairs. The petals are united at the base into a narrow, 1 ⁄16″ to ⅛″ long corolla tube (spur) then separated into 2 lips. The outer surface of the corolla is covered with glandular hairs, especially on the tube. The upper lip (palate) is white, lavender, or light purple. It projects more or less straight out and is divided into 2 lobes. The lower lip is spreading and is divided into 3 lobes. It is usually white, often with pale yellow markings. Sometimes it is tinged with pale purple or pink. The base of the lower lip is strongly arched downward forming a narrow opening (throat) below the upper lip. There are 4 fertile stamens and no infertile ones (staminodes). The style has a compact, head-like stigma. The stamens and style do not extend beyond the throat.

As the fruit develops the pedicel elongates to 3 ⁄16″ to ⅞″, and the calyx elongates to ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″. The fruit is a broadly egg-shaped to almost globe-shaped, ⅛″ to ¼″ long, 1 ⁄16″ to ⅛″ in diameter capsule containing 40 to 60 seeds.

3″ to 11″

White and lavender or purple

Dry. Disturbed areas: railroad ballast, roadsides. Full sun. Sandy or gravelly soil.

June to September

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 22, 28, 29, 30.

Native to western Asia and Europe. Naturalized across the Unites States and southern Canada.

Common