This is a stickily hairy, semi-parasitic annual plant which produces pretty bright yellow two-lipped flowers from June to September. The flowers (15-30mm long) are open-mouthed, the upper lip hooded, the lower being 3-lobed and are borne in erect leafy spikes, emerging from the leaf axils. The unstalked leaves are lanceolate and toothed with a pointed apex, being opposite below and alternative above. This wildflower is to be found growing in damp places and old wet meadows, often near the sea, is a native and belongs to the family Orobanchaceae.
I first came across this plant on Abbey Island, Co Kerry in 1977 and photographed it near Sneem, Co Kerry in 2008.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
