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Shore bank with toadflax. Vormsi

 

A quite common plant in Estonian nature, belonging to the Plantain (Plantaginaceae) family, a perennial that grows even on shore pebbles. Habitats are dry meadows, road and field verges, fallow lands and sand dunes; it is happy with light soils and open growing sites. In a meadow grass sward the toadflax cannot withstand the competition from other plants.

 

The plant has a densely leafed stem, and the leaves lack stalks. It may grow up to half a metre tall, sometimes even more. The yellow and delicate flowers have a long spur, just like a tail, and are arranged in a spike-like terminal raceme. The flowering time lasts until September. A good honey plant in addition to its decorative properties, and there is no other similar plant in our nature.