Snapdragons

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• garden snapdragon
• Snapdragon

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Orontium majus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Plantaginaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Antirrhinum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Antirrhinum majus, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also found growing in Austria and Belgium. Additionally, its range extends through the central regions of Czechia and Slovakia. Together, these locations define the primary geographical footprint of this medicinal species in Europe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Antirrhinum majus is characterized by a broad adaptability to varying altitudes, spanning an elevational range from 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution allows the species to inhabit diverse climatic zones, from lowland coastal areas to high-altitude montane environments. While it can be found in various natural settings, it is frequently documented within anthropogenic landscapes, specifically thriving in garden habitats where soil conditions are often managed.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

garden

Life history

The life history of Antirrhinum majus is characterized by its classification as a therophyte, a life form where the plant completes its development through a highly specialized cycle often involving ephemeral stages. While its lifecycle can be described as variable—ranging from annual to biennial or even perennial depending on environmental conditions and cultivation—it typically functions within a lifespan of approximately 3 years. As a deciduous species, it sheds its foliage in response to seasonal changes, ensuring its survival through dormancy. This strategic growth pattern allows the plant to navigate fluctuating climates, utilizing its therophytic nature to focus energy on seed production and survival through various life stages.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Lifespan :

3

Morphology

The morphology of Antirrhinum majus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This species is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. It exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or vine. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches an average height of 0.3625 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum height of 0.3 m to a maximum height of 0.8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.3625 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Antirrhinum majus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic strategy for carbon fixation. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology and is strictly non-carnivorous, relying on standard soil-based nutrient uptake rather than nitrogen fixation, as it is not a nitrogen fixer. Its leaf architecture is defined by an elliptic form, with leaf dimensions varying significantly; leaf length ranges from a minimum of 1.8 cm to a maximum of 6.5 cm, while the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.6 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 0.9 cm. On average, the leaves possess a mean surface area of 3.03 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 172 cm²/g, which serves as a key indicator of its leaf thickness and resource investment strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1.8 cm

Leaf size mean:

3.03 cm²

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.9 cm

Leaf width min:

0.6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

172 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Antirrhinum majus is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate cross-pollination, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in September, producing vibrant red flowers that range in length from 3.3 cm to 4.5 cm. These flowers rely on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects such as bees to ensure successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops a dehiscent fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 1.2 cm (reaching up to 1.5 cm) and a mean width of 1.1 cm (ranging from 1 cm to 1.2 cm). Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds are quite small, with a mean length and width of 1 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.000163889 g (ranging from 0.0001 g to 0.00023 g). Dispersal of these seeds occurs through both anemochorous (wind) and anthropochorous (human) mechanisms. As a monocarpic species, the reproductive cycle is a definitive stage in its life history, and asexual reproduction is absent.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

4.5 cm

Flower length min:

3.3 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00023 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000163889 g

Seed mass min:

1e-04 g

Seed width mean:

1 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Antirrhinum majus has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 8-Oxogeranial, Apigenin 7-glucuronide, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoid, Iridoids.

8-Oxogeranial

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Apigenin 7-glucuronide

1. Heliyon

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Heliyon

Flavonoid

1. Heliyon

Iridoids

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Luteolin-7-glucuronide

1. Heliyon

citric acid

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Conditions

Antirrhinum majus has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacillus subtilis

1. Heliyon

Candida albicans

1. Heliyon

Enterobacter aerogenes

1. Heliyon

Escherichia coli

1. Heliyon

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Heliyon

Gastric diseases

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences