Linaria [lin-AR-ee-uh], commonly known as Toadflax, is a large genus of 150 species of flowering plants.This genus of small bright flowering plants is, in fact, one of the largest herbaceous perennials and annuals in the Antirrhineae tribe.The genus belongs to the plantain family Plantaginaceae and was originally placed in the Scrophulariaceae family.They are native to temperate climates in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa.However, the highest species diversity is found in Mediterranean regions.The scientific name Linaria means “resembling Linum or flax.”This is because the foliage of some of the species superficially resembles Linum.
