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Useful Temperate Plants

Antirrhinum majus

L.

Plantaginaceae


The genus Antirrhinum was formerly treated in the family Scrophulariaceae, but most treatments have now (2015) transferred it to Plantaginaceae[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Antirrhinum angustifolium d'Urv.

Antirrhinum capitatum C.Presl

Antirrhinum compositum Lojac.

Antirrhinum diminutum Pomel

Antirrhinum fernandezcasasii Romo, Stübing & Peris

Antirrhinum grandiflorum Stokes

Antirrhinum hispanicum faurei Maire

Antirrhinum hispanorum Bordère ex Rothm.

Antirrhinum italicum Mill.

Antirrhinum latifolium cirrhigerum Welw. ex Ficalho

Antirrhinum latifolium linkianum (Boiss. & Reut.) Nyman

Antirrhinum latifolium pseudomajus Rouy

Antirrhinum latifolium purpurascens Benth.

Antirrhinum lazari Sennen

Antirrhinum leiocalyx Pau

Antirrhinum linkianum Boiss. & Reut.

Antirrhinum linkianum cirrhigerum (Welw. ex Ficalho) Rivas Mart., T.E.Díaz & Fern.Gonz.

Antirrhinum litigiosum Pau ex Sennen

Antirrhinum montevidense Mart. ex Colla

Antirrhinum murale Salisb.

Antirrhinum ottomanum Janka

Antirrhinum rhodium Boiss. ex Benth.

Antirrhinum romanum Sebast. & Mauri ex Nyman

Antirrhinum siculum algeriense Rouy

Antirrhinum siculum tortuosum (Bosc ex Vent.) Steud.

Antirrhinum ternatum Fern.Casas

Antirrhinum tortuosum Bosc ex Vent.

Antirrhinum vidalianum Pau & Font Quer

Antirrhinum vulgare Bubani

Orontium majus Pers.

Termontis racemosa Raf.

Common Name: Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus
Flowering plant, growing on a wall in Thasos, Greece
Photograph by: User:Haplochromis
Creative Commons License
Antirrhinum majus Antirrhinum majus Antirrhinum majus

General Information

Antirrhinum majus is a short-lived perennial plant producing an erect, branched stem that can grow from 20 - 100cm tall[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested for local medicinal use. It is commonly grown as an ornamental in gardens, valued for its long-lasting floral display[
352
Title
KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

100
Title
Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide.
Publication
 
Author
Polunin. O.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1969
ISBN
0192176218
Description
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Mediterranean region of southern Europe, northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean

Habitat

Old walls, rocks and dry places[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
100
Title
Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide.
Publication
 
Author
Polunin. O.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1969
ISBN
0192176218
Description
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsBees, Self
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Antirrhinum majus is a perennil plant of the Mediterranean region that flowers well in its first year from seed and so is generally able to be grown as a spring-sown annual in cooler regions of the temperate zone.
Prefers a light well drained loam and a sunny position[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants are tolerant of clay and lime soils, and also nutritionally poor soils, though they do less well in such conditions[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
]. They grow well on old walls[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants grow best in sunny, relatively dry areas[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].
Plants are often grown as an annual since they usually degenerate in their second year[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. They often self sow when well-sited[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
There are many named forms, selected for their ornamental value[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

An oil that is little inferior to olive oil is said to be obtained from the seeds[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. The report also says that the plant has been cultivated in Russia for this purpose[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. The seeds are very small and I wonder about the authenticity of this report[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

The leaves and flowers are antiphlogistic, bitter, resolvent and stimulant[
7
Title
Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Chiej. R.
Publisher
MacDonald
Year
1984
ISBN
0-356-10541-5
Description
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
,
115
Title
The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Publication
 
Author
Johnson. C. P.
Publisher
 
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.
]. They have been employed in poultices on tumours and ulcers[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
]. It is effective in the treatment of all kinds of inflammation and is also used on haemorrhoids[
7
Title
Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Chiej. R.
Publisher
MacDonald
Year
1984
ISBN
0-356-10541-5
Description
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
]. The plant can be used as a diuretic, a treatment for scurvy, liver disorders, tumors and as a detergent and astringent[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].
The plant is harvested in the summer when in flower and is dried for later use[
7
Title
Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Chiej. R.
Publisher
MacDonald
Year
1984
ISBN
0-356-10541-5
Description
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
].

The plant contains antirrhinoside, an iridoid glucoside which is of terpenoid origin and can be isolated in up to 1.5% of wet weight in some varieties[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
]. Antirrhinoside is being investigated by the pharmaceutical industry as a potential building block for making a number of biologically active compounds for treating a wide range of diseases[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].
The plant also contains a number of flavonoid substances including anthocyanidins, flavonols, flavones, aurones, flavanones and cinnamic acids[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].

Other Uses

A green dye is obtained from the flowers, it does not require a mordant[
168
Title
Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Grae. I.
Publisher
MacMillan Publishing Co. New York.
Year
1974
ISBN
0-02-544950-8
Description
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
]. Dark green and gold can also be obtained if a mordant is used[
168
Title
Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Grae. I.
Publisher
MacMillan Publishing Co. New York.
Year
1974
ISBN
0-02-544950-8
Description
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
].

The fibre of the stem is tenacious and can be used as a textile[
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 10 - 21 days at 18°c[
134
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
Publication
 
Author
Rice. G. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1988
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. Cool nights assist germination[
134
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
Publication
 
Author
Rice. G. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1988
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
The seed can also be sown in situ in mid summer and will produce larger and more floriferous plants the following summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in September in a cold frame[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-11-08. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Antirrhinum+majus>

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