ID wanted

[ian mcdonald]

I have seen these plants for several years but this is the first time I,ve seen them in flower. As soon as I saw the flower it reminded me of Wolfs Bane, which I found many years ago by Loch Tay. The leaves are wrong for Wolfs Bane. I assume it has either been planted by the river or is a garden escape. My books are still packed away so I don,t have a reference. Does anyone recognise it?

[Tristan_He]

Hi Ian, is that Linaria vulgaris in bud? Unusually tall though.

Tristan

[ian mcdonald]

Tristan, I thought it looked like a Linaria but as you say, it is tall. The tallest being about 3ft. Mind you, they are in shade. I,ll have to wait to see how it develops, unless someone else has an alternative suggestion.

[Maggi Young]

I agree, that it is a Linaria - they can all get  much taller than one  would imagine

[ian mcdonald]

Thanks Maggi, I think all the fresh air must have got to me.

[ian mcdonald]

Yellow Toad-flax, Linaria vulgaris, as suggested. The un-usual height and non-flowering in previous years threw me off track. It just proves there is still much to learn about wildlife, they can,t read books.

[ashley]

I hope Ian doesn't mind my using this thread for another ID question.

Can anyone identify this Spanish Malvaceae please, from seed collected in the El Chorro gorge in Málaga Province, Andalucia?

[Maggi Young]

I hope Ian doesn't mind my using this thread for another ID question.

Can anyone identify this Spanish Malvaceae please, from seed collected in the El Chorro gorge in Málaga Province, Andalucia?

Might it not be a Lavatera maritima?  ( not that far from the sea!!)

[ashley]

Thanks Maggi, that must be it  
These plants' minimal leaf lobes confused me but from pictures online the species seems to be very variable both in leaf shape and extent of purple staining of the petals.