Kickxia elatine aka Sharp Leaf Fluellen

Kickxia elatine belongs to the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It is an annual: it lives for one year. Its common names include sharp-leaved fluellen and pointed-leaved toadflax. The RHS also gives its Welsh name as llysiau llywelyn. It once had the scientific name Linaria elatine. Its native range spans Macaronesia, Europe, and Central Asia. It also grows wild in northern Somalia as a native plant. The RHS confirms it is native to Britain and Ireland. Kew places it in the temperate climate zone.

This plant grows to about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. It ends its life cycle within a year. It does not form a lasting woody plant. It grows on farmed land, where gardeners may find it. PFAF records it in crop fields, mainly cornfields with light soil. It also lists garden beds as places to grow it. The sources give no full account of stems or leaves. They give no mature spread to help space plants in beds.

Flowers bloom from July to October, from summer into autumn. Each flower has both male and female organs. Yet PFAF says the plant is not self-fertile. This means it cannot set seed with its own pollen. The evidence does not say what pollinates the flowers. It gives no flower colour, shape, or size. It gives no facts about the fruit. Grow new plants from seed, the stated means of propagation. Sow where they will grow, in spring or autumn.

Choose a sunny site with light or medium soil. Both sandy soil and loam suit this plant. PFAF says it can take light shade, though it advises sun. The plant prefers moist soil. The stated range runs from mildly acid through neutral to mildly alkaline. This gives some choice of soil, but does not cover all extremes. The sources give no frost rating or hardiness zone. PFAF warns it may act as a weed. Watch for it in beds for this reason. The evidence does not show that it is invasive.

PFAF lists no known food use and rates edibility at zero. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove food safety. A recorded use applies the plant externally to help stop bleeding. This is a report of use, not proof of safe treatment. PFAF gives its value as medicine a low rating. It lists no other uses.