Butter-and-Eggs.Linaria vulgaris.Jacob’s Ladder.Ramsted.
Found from July to September in fields, meadows, and roadsides.
The very leafy, and slightly branching, stalk varies in height from 1 to 2 or 3 feet; it is slender, round, of a firm close fibre, and smooth. Light gray-green in color.
The narrow long leaf is like a grass-blade, with an entire margin, fine texture, and smooth surface. It is pale gray-green, lighter underneath. The leaves are set close on the stalk, the arrangement being alternate, and near together.
The flower is 2-lipped; the lower lip is 3-lobed, the middle lobe being short and small, with a swelling above, which nearly closes the throat of the corolla; the base of the lip is prolonged into a slender, pointed spur; the upper lip is 2-lobed, the divisions bend outward and over the lower lip; the texture is fine, and smooth, the throat being lined with a glossy plush-like down; the color is a pure lemon yellow, the protuberance on the lower lip golden-orange. The 4 stamens are pale with cheese-colored tips; the pistil is tipped with green. The small calyx is 5-parted, and green. The flowers, on short small foot-stems, are arranged alternately, and close, in a terminal spike, the spurs turning downward.
A charming feature of the blossom is the arch of the meeting tips of the long pair of stamens above the shorter pair and the little pistil; the two rows of orange velvet that run down the inside of the corolla are also highly ornamental. This plant is a prime favorite with children, but few among grown observers stop to consider the admirable clarity of its lemon and orange hues. It is gregarious and grows in colonies.