Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon) is a species of Antirrhinum native to the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern France, and east to Turkey and Syria.^[1][2]

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 0.5-1 m tall, rarely up to 2 m. The leaves are spirally arranged, broadly lanceolate, 1-7 cm long and 2-2.5 cm broad. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, each flower is 3.5-4.5 cm long, zygomorphic, with two 'lips' closing the corolla tube; wild plants have pink to purple flowers, often with yellow lips. The fruit is an ovoid capsule 10-14 mm diameter, containing numerous small seeds.^[3]

The common name derives from the flowers which, when squeezed, open their "mouths". The plants are pollinated by bumblebees, and the flowers close over the insects when they enter and deposit pollen on their bodies.

Antirrhinum majus subsp. linkianum

• Antirrhinum majus subsp. majus. Southern France, northeast Spain.
• Antirrhinum majus subsp. cirrhigerum (Ficalho) Franco. Southern Portugal, southwest Spain.
• Antirrhinum majus subsp. linkianum (Boiss. & Reut.) Rothm. Western Portugal (endemic).
• Antirrhinum majus subsp. litigiosum (Pau) Rothm. Southeastern Spain.
• Antirrhinum majus subsp. tortuosum (Bosc) Rouy. Throughout the species' range.

Cultivation and uses

A peloric Snapdragon

It often escapes from cultivation, and naturalised populations occur widely in Europe north of the native range,^[3] and elsewhere in temperate regions of the world.^[2]

In the laboratory it is a model organism^[5], for example containing the gene DEFICIENS which provides the letter "D" in the acronym MADS-box for a family of genes which are important in plant development.

References

1. ↑ ^{a b} Flora Europaea: ''Antirrhinum majus''
2. ↑ ^{a b c} Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Antirrhinum majus''
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2
4. ↑ Huxley, A, ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. ISBN 0-333-47494-5
5. ↑

External links

• Antirrhinum majus in Topwalks

da:Have-Løvemund de:Großes Löwenmaul fa:?? ????? fr:Muflier he:???-??? ???? hsb:Zahrodna lawica it:Antirrhinum majus ja:?????? pl:Wy?lin wi?kszy sv:Lejongap