Linaria, Chaenorhinum and Cymbalaria species - Toadflaxes

Linaria vulgaris - Common Toadflax

This has a soft, flexible stem and leaves which are slightly glaucous and is quite distinctive even without the flowers.

Linaria purpurea - Purple Toadflax

This has the flowers in longer spikes than the yellow L. vulgare and tends to be more branched. In Lanarkshire it is an established garden escape.

Cymbalaria is a different genus which grows mainly on walls.

Cymbalaria muralis - Ivy-leaved Toadflax

The common plant of old walls is distinctive and can usually be found in flower all year. It is trailing, hairless and often with a purplish tinge. The flowers are lilac with yellow or white palate. However there are white forms.

Cymbalaria pallida - Italian Toadflax

This has shortly-haired stems with similar flowers to Cymbalaria muralis but they are larger.

Chaenorhinum minus - Small Toadflax is a tiny plant often growing in gravel and easily overlooked.