Cymbalaria muralis Ivy-leaved Toadflax

An attractive, trailing alien which is common on walls, stone bridges, pavements and other man made stone structures. It also grows on stony rubble and occasionally on shingle. The miniature snapdragon-like flowers are usually a mauve-violet colour but plants with white flowers also occur, albeit very rarely. It is native to central southern Europe, was introduced in Britain as a rockery plant and was first recorded wild in 1640. It usually occurs close to human habitations but it is well naturalised and a ubiquitous component of the wild wall flora of Britain and Ireland, except for the highlands of Scotland. Most populations produce abundant seed but it is also able to root from shoot fragments. It is essentially a plant of urban habiats in West Glamorgan where it is widespread and common. Of the two subspecies that occur in Britain only Cymbalaria muralis ssp. muralis has been recorded in our area.

Neophyte