Plants of Southern New Jersey

Photos by Renee Brecht

Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River

Plant Profile

Comandra umbellata L.

bastard toadflax


Photo by Renee Brecht	Britton and Brown. See credits below.**

Botanical name:

Comandra umbellata L.

Common name:

bastard toadflax

Synonomy:

Anthemis arvensis L. var. agrestis (Wallr.) DC.

Group:

dicot

Family:

Santalaceae

Growth Type:

forb/herb

Duration:

perennial

Origin:

native

Plant height:

4-16"

Foliage:

Alternate leaves; no basal leaves; leaves narrowly oval or elliptic, 1-2"

Flower:

flowers on terminal ellipsoid panicles

Flowering/fruiting time

bloom mid May to late June

Habitat:

Hough states a root parasite of Vaccinium (blueberries) in sandy ground of fields, shaded wood edges

Range in New Jersey:

statewide

Heritage ranking if any:

n/a

Distribution

Misc.:

A hemi-parasite; i.e., it is parasitic but also produces chlorophyll.

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Sources

**USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 2: 572.