Cymbalaria muralis
Veronicaceae
March to October and all year in mild winters,
especially in the South.
It is found throughout the country.
See the BsBI distribution map for Ivy-leaved Toadflax
It is a neophyte, which was introduced into the UK in the
early 1600s.
It was first recorded as a naturalised escape in the 1640s.
It is found mainly on walls, rocky places, shingle beaches
and occasionally as a weed in flower beds.
Ivy-leaved Toadflax is a perennial herb with trailing stems
growing up to 60cm
Flowers are variable in size. Usually they are around
8-10 mm.
Flowers have 2 lips.
The upper lip has 2 lobes and is lilac with mauve lines.
The lower lip has 3 lobes and 2 white bulges with
yellow markings.
The bulges close the mouth of the corolla, hiding the
reproductive parts.
There is a conical spur projecting from the rear.
There are 4 stamens with white filaments and
anthers.
There is a single slightly ping style and capitate
stigma.
The fruit is a capsule with sticky, black seeds.
White flowers occur occasionally.
Leaves are dark green, ivy in shape, sometimes
with a purple tinge to the periphery.
It can spread by fragmentation, nodes from the runners
and by seed.
Runners are produced in large numbers and root
from nodes.
When seeds first germinate they are negatively
phototrophic and move into cracks.
Once stablished, they become phototrophic and grow out
from the cracks..
Previous page: Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Next page: Japanese Larch
Ivy-leaved Toadflax on a south facing wall, Dorset
On a nearby northwest facing wall
Closer view of flowers
Plant with white flowers
Front view - 2 lobed upper lip, 3 lobed lower lip, yellow
and white bulges on lower lip
Side view - corolla tube, spur and calyx
Style and 4 stamens (normally hidden)
Close-up of stamens and capitate stigma
Capsules and long flower stems
Close-up of capsules
Sticky black seeds
Ivy-shaped leaf
Runners
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