Wild Plants of Malta & Gozo - Plant: Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon)

Lesser Snapdragon

Misopates orontium / Lesser Snapdragon / Papoċċi rqiq
This plant is brought to you by one of the project's sponsors:
HSBC Cares for the Environment Fund
More sponsors are needed for this project [ click here ]

Contents Links

 

Nomenclature

Botanical Data

Description

General Information

Photo Gallery

Further Info & Links

Buy Seeds and Docs

Submit own info
about this plant

Give a small Donation Online

FORUM

Copyright Info

 

Main Index

 
Visitor hits (May-2004)

Nomenclature

Species name:

Misopates orontium   (L.) Raf.

Author(s):

Carl von Linné;
   Sweden, 1707-1778

Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz;
   Turkey/ France/ USA, 1783-1840

General names:

Lesser Snapdragon, Weasel's Snout, Linear Leaf Snapdragon

Maltese name:

Papoċċi rqiq

Plant Family:

Scrophulariaceae   (Figwort Family)

Name Derivation:

Misopates = from the Greek words "misos" (hate) and "patein" (step on), with which its author meant that it would be a pity to step on this beautiful herb (Greek);
orontium = derived from the Greek word "orontion", which is an old Greek plant name used already by Galenos in the 2nd century (Greek).

Synonyms:

Antirrhinum orontium, Antirrhinum orontium var. grandiflorum

Remarks:

-


Botanical Data

PLANT STRUCTURE:

Characteristic

Growth Form

Branching

Surface

Description

Erect :

Upright, vertically straight up well clear off the ground.

Basal Branching :

Branches are mostly present at the basal part of the stem.

Glandular Hairs (Uppert part only):

Possess hair that bear glands or swellings at their tip. Lower part hairless (glabrous).

General
Picture

Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007)

LEAVES:

Characteristic

Arrangement

Attachment

Venation

Description

Whorled (x3):

Three or more similar leaves growing at the same level about an axis (stem).

Sessile :

Growing directly from the stem; without a stalk.

Single :

One central main vein (midrib) along leaf axis.

General
Picture

Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007)
 

Characteristic

Leaf Shape

Leaf Margin

Remarks

Description

Fusiform :

Spindle shape, widest in the middle and tapering towards both ends.

Entire :

Smooth margin without indentations, lobes or any projections.

General
Picture

Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007)

FLOWERS:

Characteristic

Colour

Basic Flower Type

No. of Petals

No. of Sepals

Description

Pink & Red

Pink petals with deep red veins.

Personate :

Flowers composed of 2 lips with the lower one having a rounded projection known as a palate.

2

Upper and lower lip-like petals resting on each other.

5

General
Picture

  Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007)
 

Characteristic

Inflorescence

Description

Ovary

Stamens

Description

Raceme :

Simple, elongated, indeterminate cluster with stalked flowers.

The flower consists of 5 finger-like sepals and a corolla of 2 large and complex, pink petals (lips), resting on each other forming a closed tubular structure. The 2 lips, but especially the palate of the lower one are further decorated by deep red veins. Inside the flower, there are 4 stamens and a pistil, all close together and located at the roof of the upper lip. The spur is absent.

Superior :

Ovary situated above the flower parts (the calyx, corolla, and androecium). In other words, these are attached below the ovary.

4, Didynamous :

Having one pair of stamen longer than the other pair. Often the stamens of the pair are very close to each other and seems to be fused as a single unit (connate).

General
Picture

Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007)
 

Characteristic

Scent

Average Flower Size

Pollen Colour

Other Notes

Description

YES

Mild sweet scent.

8 x 8 x 15 mm

(Length x Breadth x Depth).

Yellow

-


SEEDS:

Characteristic

No. Per Fruit

Shape

Size

Colour

Description

>200

Irregular cylindrical to oval shape

(Seed coat possess several ridges).

1mm

Dark brown / Black

General
Picture

Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007)

FRUIT AND OTHER BOTANICAL DATA:

Characteristic

Fruit Type

Colour of Fruit

Subterranean Parts

Other Notes

Description

Indehiscent Poricidal Capsule :

A non-splitting fruit capsule which usually stores a large number of tiny seeds which escape through small pores or slits in the walls of the fruit.

Beige-Brown

Taproot :

A rooting system where there is the main descending root of a plant having a single dominant large structure from which a network of smaller and long roots emerge.

-

General
Picture

Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007) Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Islands of Malta  - Copyright Stephen Mifsud / Maltawildplants.com / Malta (2002-2007)

Plant Description

Life Cycle:

Annual

Habitat:

Cultivated fields (esp. cereal), field margins, soily waysides.

Frequency:

Frequent

Sources in Malta:

Frequent besides wheatfields such as in Qormi, Siggiewi and Rabat. Also located in Wied Anglu, Mizieb and Bahrija.

Plant Height:

20-50cm.

Flowering Time:

Apr - Jul

Poison:

Not Poisonous

This annual plant produces several erect, stems which branch only at the lower part; sometimes just above ground level. The stem is glabrous but becomes hairy (with glandular hairs) at the upper part,approximately at the region of the flowers and fruit.

The short stalked leaves are linear to fusiform, glabrous, have an entire outline and a distinct depressed midrib. The leaf length varies according to the position on the plant. Leaves at the main stem are larger, about 50mm long by 4mm wide, whereas branched leaves are much smaller (20mm x 2mm) and more linear in shape. The plant forms a large stipule-like leaves arranged in 3 x whorls or opposite pairs which becomes irregularly leveled and then alternating towards up the stem. From the axils of these leaves grows out a small slender branch of about 4 - 10 linear leaflets. These leaflets are usually arranged in decussate opposite pairs.

The small, solitary flowers measure about 6mm diameter and 15mm deep. They are nearly sessile to the stem (just a 1mm pedicel) and arranged in an alternate fashion forming loose racemes. Like the leaflet stems, there is a large sessile leaf-like bract from which the flower grows. The flower have 5 long linear sepals of slightly unequal length. In the flower form the the bract and the 5 sepals seems to form a singular 6-unit symmetrically arranged structure - as if the flower have a 6-sepal calyx.

The corolla is bi-laterally symmetrical and composed of an upper and lower pink-lilac lips which forms a closed tube-like structure. The upper lip has 2 lobes and the lower has 3 and both, especially at the palate of the lower one, have deep red veins. There is no spur and the flower are slightly scented. Inside the flower there are the reproductive organs, composed of one central pistil and 2 pairs of stamen with swollen yellow anthers. Sometimes the anthers of each pair are so close together that they fuse together.

The fruit of the plant are oval, green, dehiscent poricidal capsules which when they ripen they turn beige-brown, becomes dry and hard and develops 3 openings from which the tiny (1mm), brown seeds escapes the fruit, mainly by swaying of the stems with wind or animals passing by.


Additional Information


Nativity and Distribution

This plant is widespread in many areas around the world mainly in the continents of Africa, Europe and Asia. It is native to:
AFRICA : ( Eg: Cape Verde, Algeria; Egypt; Libya; Morocco; Tunisia Eritrea; Ethiopia; Sudan; Kenya)

ASIA: (eg: Iran; Israel; Jordan; Lebanon; Syria; Turkey; India; Nepal; Pakistan )

EUROPE: (eg: Austria; Belgium; Netherlands; Switzerland; Ukraine; Albania; Bulgaria; Greece; Italy; Romania; Yugoslavia; Portugal; Spain; Canary Islands)    [WWW-26]

Synonyms

The plant is also referred to as Antirrhinum orontium and Antirrhinum orontium var. grandiflorum [WWW-26]

Food for Larvae

This plant can be used as food for the following larvae: Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla and Stenoptilia aridus [WWW-62]
Not much information has been found about this particular plant species. If you can supply further info to be included in this profile, please do not hesitate to email us. Alternatively, input the new info you can supply at the form found at the botom of this page. Full reference credits will be given accordingly. Thank you for your support!

Photo Gallery

Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO
Photo of flower in situ (lateral view).
Photo (front view) of flower which is actinomorphic (bi-laterally symmetrical).
Photo of flower, consisting of an upper and lower lip restiing upon each other forming a tubular-shaped corolla.
Photo of 2 flowers in situ.
Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO
Photo of 2 flowers. Note the unequal finger-like sepals and the leaf-like bract.
Annotated photo of flower.
Scanned image of flower against a dark background. Bottom/front view.
Scanned image of flower against a dark background. Lateral view.
Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO
Scanned image of the interior part of the two flower lips.
Scanned image of the red-veined upper lip and the 2 pairs of stamens consisting of lilac/pink filaments and yellow anthers. The anthers of each stamen pair are so close together that they tend to fuse. The stigma is hidden between the anthers.
Scanned and annotated image of plant.
Photo of few plants in a wheat field.
Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO
Photo of branched plant. Stem branches at its basal part.
Photo of a young plant.
Photo of the spindle shaped (fusiform) leaves. They are widest at the center and tapering gradually towards the ends.
Scanned image of 3 main leaves sessile to the stem and about 4 - 6 cm long. On the right side of the image there is a leaf branch with smaller oppositely arranged leaves. The leaves are fusiform.
Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO
Cross section through lower stem showing the arrangement of leaves, in this case 3 x whorled. Sometimes they are oppositely arranged, but they become alternately arranged up the stem.
Photo of an unripe, oval shaped fruit covered with white hair and a central persistent style which dries of slowly.
Photo of a ripe poricidal (containing pores) fruit capsules. The fruit wall become hard, and develops 3 openings from which the seeds are liberated.
Photo of a ripe fruit showing the 3 openings. It may resemble an animal skull!
Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO
Scanned image of unripe fruit capsules held by the persistent finger-like sepals.
Magnified scanned image of the tiny (1mm c.) dark brown seeds.
Black & white illustration of the plant taken from http://digi.azz.cz.
Colour illustration taken from Flora Danica Online.
Misopates orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) - CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO      
Magnified image of seeds under light microscope.
-
-
-

Further Information and Links

Information about M. orontium by Forest Starr et al., (United States Geological Survey--Biological Resources Division, Hawaii) Propagation of annual wildflowers, including M. orontium
Search for Misopates orontium on the FORUM of MaltaWildPlants.com


Buy from and support MaltaWildPlants.com

Buy Seeds from Maltawildplants.com Buy samples of seeds of certain wild plants for your studies, trials, research, etc. Not all species' seeds can be exported (depending on Maltese regulations), and availability depends on season of species. So, before any payment, you are kindly asked to fill in the online quotation/order form by which I can contact you back for availability and charges. Buy Seeds from Maltawildplants.com   Online Quotation

Buy Seeds from Maltawildplants.com   Online Payment
Buy Documents from Maltawildplants.com Buy documents related to Maltese Wild Plants such as the list of references, full profile, or other docs you request. Buy Documents from Maltawildplants.com   Online Payment
Buy Images  from Maltawildplants.com Buy any of my own copyright images found in this large collection of Maltese flora. You should first select the image you want to buy and input its corresponding code (found beneath each individual photo) in the online ordering form. Buy Seeds from Maltawildplants.com   Online Payment
Buy Seeds from Maltawildplants.com Kindly donate any sum of money (from 2USD / 2Euro) to help us covering some expenses needed to maintain Maltawildplants.com. Please bear in mind how much hard work such a large and up-to-date website needs to arrive directly to you home, office or library. Your kind donations are both greatly appreciated and recorded for future reference. Donors asking help will have first que preference for assistance and special attention. Buy Seeds from Maltawildplants.com   Online Donation


Submit More Information

Use the form below to submit more information about this plant or a related species. If the data is taken from a book, journal, website, etc, please provide the corresponding reference / website address as indicated in the form. If it is your own observation, then your name will be cited. Your Email address will never be displayed online, it is just for internal communication.


For plant species that are marked as rare, you can also report other locations in Malta where you have seen this species.

Finally you can report any mistakes or errors found on the plant profile for necessary corrections. This will help to improve the website's acuracy.


To have more details about each particular field, just move your mouse on it and wait for the help message to pop up

* = required fields.
Plant Species:  *
Your name:   *
Your Email:   *
Fill any of the following 3 sections below (A, B or/and C) and send the form. - Thank you.
 
A:  Additional Information about this plant species
Own observations:
Info from published material (books, jounals, website):

Reference of published material:

 
B:   Where have you seen this plant on the Maltese Islands?
Locations in Malta or Gozo where you have encountered this plant.
Mostly applies for rare plants.




1:        2:   
3:       4:   
5:       6:   

Try to be as concise as possible. Examples: Dingli Cliffs (near chapel), Wied Incita (Zebbug side), Triq il-Kbira (Qormi), Barriera ta\' Abdul (Xlendi), Fields near Salib tal-gholja (Siggiewi). GPS bearings are also welcomed!
 
C:  Corrections for mistakes and errors in this plant profile.
Section of this plant Profile page where you found an error (select one)

What is the error/mistake
What should be its correction
          






All material and data on this webpage is under the copyright of the author of this site - Stephen Mifsud / www.MaltaWildPlants.com / Malta. (2002-2008)
This research project about the flora of Malta is sponsored by:
Middlesea Insurance p.l.c. A Fund established to help in the amelioration and enhancement of the environment in Malta and to take initiatives that enhance awareness on environmental issues amongst the public Empty space for sponsor Empty space for sponsor Benefit companies get by sponsoring this project