Spring after spring we get these and I love them. What are they? They have a very light fragrance and they cover our fields.

Toadflax

Perfect.

Blue Toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis)

Thank you.

I'm not sure the leaves match Nuttallanthus canadensis Dave, they are thinner than those on your plant.

Nuttallanthus texanus is possible, I would say more likely ..

http://www.pbase.com/rodg/imag...

http://wildflowerlense.com/npa...

Is the spur much longer than the calyx? The spurs on yours look quite long, compare them to these photos and the leaves ..

http://www.missouriplants.com/...

http://luirig.altervista.org/f...

The bloom on mine does not match the Nuttallanthus texanus photos I've seen, but it does match the Nuttallanthus canadensis perfectly.

As for the leaves, again N. canadensis looks like the match to me. That MOBOT link you gave shows a spot on comparison between mine and theirs.

Flowers vary Dave, check the length of the spurs.

I'll check that.

You might be right. I have to admit I never noticed the spurs before even though they are very obvious once you look for them. Here's a closeup shot:



I'll go look and take more photos in the pasture today but I think they'll reveal that this is indeed N. texanus (which would make sense, wouldn't it, given we're in Texas.)

Nice job, Janet.

I took another photo this morning.

That shows the 'much longer' spurs well Dave, I like the crop too.

I think you should place all these in the files entry, along with the shot showing the leaves. A comment mentioning the differences with N. canadensis would be good too.

edited: to alter the capital C on 'canadensis' which the auto spell check insists on doing!

and I'll do it.

For the leaves, however, I want a better picture. Somehow I managed to get the leaves shot too blurry. I'll take another one.

Can't tell you how timely this one was for me. It was only four days ago that my neighbor asked me to help identify a similar plant.
There are fields of these (similar) in the Savannah, Georgia area. A few grow in our yards, or I see them along the road side when I am walking. I will use the spur length and leaf to better identify the one growing near me and give the answer to my neighbor.
Thanks! Now where is my camera...

I agree Greene,

This plant started popping up here in everybodies yards, fields, and space a few years ago and no one hear knew what it was. Very Cool to have it identified!

Glad you brought the subject to the table and great pictures Dave!