What plant is like a nose?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

March 8, 2002

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If one picks a single flower from a snapdragon (Antirrhinum spp.) and gently squeezes the sides, the 'mouth' of the flower will open and close. John Gerard in The Herbal (1633 ed.) attributed the common name, "...fashioned like a frogs mouth, or rather a dragons mouth, from whence the women have taken the name Snapdragon."

Snapdragon, Angelmist, Deep Plum Improved

The Latin name for the snapdragon, Antirrhinum, appears to have derived from the Greek name antirrhinon meaning 'like a nose'.
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The flowers, though, were ignored in most of the common names of the 1600s. Gerard wrote of the plant, "The seed is black, contained in round husks fashioned like a calves snout...or in my opinion it is more like unto the bones of a sheeps head...."

Consequently, the seed capsule gave the plant numerous unflattering names: tête de chien (head of dog), tête de veau (head of veal), cabeza de ternera (head of calf), and canis cerebrum. The Herbal even contains a rather fanciful drawing of the small snapdragon (Antirrhinum minus) showing the seed capsules as little animal skulls.

The botanical name, Antirrhinum, was the Latin name for the snapdragon. It appears to have derived from the Greek name antirrhinon meaning 'like a nose'.

The only medicinal use reported by Gerard was an eye wash, but he wrote, "saith Dioscorides that the herb being hanged about one preserveth a man from being bewitched, and that it maketh a man gracious in the sight of people."

The USDA PLANTS Profile has great photographs of Antirrhinum majus L. garden snapdragon seeds. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ANMA3

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Pink Dragonflower, False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant

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Deep pink, snapdragon-like trumpets decorate 18-36" spikes. Pink Dragonflower will brighten the landscape from late summer into fall. Great in any garden, showy in the border, pretty in bouquets. Watch for the butterflies! Plant 12-18" apart.

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Physostegia virginiana

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9 (-30° F)

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Unique Characteristics: Somewhat slender perennial with erect stems featuring floral spikes loaded with small snapdragon like blooms. Nice addition to cut flower arrangements. Sometimes called False Dragonhead or Obedient Plant because the flowers can be moved to different positions and remain that way and will continue to grow.

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White Dragonflower, False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant

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Narrow leaves and graceful stems set off unusual snapdragon-like blooms late summer to fall. This easy care, Virginia native grows 18-36" tall, 12-18" wide. White Dragonflowers have an unique cut flower.

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Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners'

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9 (-30° F)

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Hardy Snapdragon

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Charming, creamy-yellow "dragon" flowers appear on 20-24" stems all summer long and return year after year. Long-lasting bloom spikes are ideal for cutting.

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Verbascum phoiniceum mix

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Unique Characteristics: Colorful racemes of flowers dotted and speckled through a border add bright glimpses of the many hues this mix contains. It has a light airy quality to it that is perfect to intervene amongst some of the heavier varieties that can become oppressive without these light touches. Easy and free flowering, a short lived perennial that will perpetuate itself by self sown seed.

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