Butter and Eggs (Linaria vulgaris): yellow Minnesota wildflowers

Butter and Eggs

Plant Info
Also known as:	Yellow Toadflax
Scientific name:	Linaria vulgaris
Family:	Figwort (Scrophulariaceae)
Life cycle:	perrenial
Origin:	Europe
Habitat:	sun; fields, along roads
Bloom season:	spring, summer, fall
Plant height:	1 to 2 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Flower:: Spike-like raceme 3 to 6 inches long of irregular yellow and orange flowers, each ¾ to 1 inch long. The upper lip of each flower is divided into 2 lobes, the lower lip into 3, with a long narrow spur hanging down at the base that holds nectar. The lips and spur are yellow; an orange palate projects from the center.
Leaves:: Leaves are up to 2½ inches long and 1/8 to 1/6 inch wide with pointed tips and no leaf stem. Attachment is alternate, but they can be tightly packed along the stem so may appear opposite or whorled. Leaves are toothless and hairless.
Notes:: Butter and Eggs is on the noxious weed list for Minnesota. It tends to grow in clumps and spreads vegetatively as well as by seed. Its main blooming season is early to mid summer, but it's not unusual to find some patches blooming in late spring or early fall.

More yellow wildflowers. Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, June 2007

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?