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Scrophulariaceae

Flowers: Perfect, zygomorphic, 2-lipped to nearly regular; sepals connate; petals connate; stamens 2 or 4, didynamous, 5th staminode sometimes present; carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary superior, 2-locular with many axile ovules

Inflorescences: Various cymes and racemes

Fruits: 2-valved capsules, seeds tiny

Habit: Annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, trees, woody climbers; many photosynthetic root parasites (hemiparasites)

Leaves: Alternate, opposite, or whorled, simple to divided or compound, no stipules

Examples:

  • Antirrhinum majus (snapdragon)
  • Calceolaria
  • Castilleja coccinea (Indian paintbrush)
  • Chelone glabra (turtlehead)
  • Collinsia verna (blue-eyed Mary)
  • Digitalis purpurea (foxglove)
  • Linaria vulgaris, L. canadensis (butter & eggs, toadflax)
  • Pedicularis canadensis (lousewort)
  • Penstemon pallidus (beardstongue)
  • Striga asiatica (witchweed)
  • Verbascum thapsus(mullein)
  • Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's-root)

Related families

Orobanchaceae — parasitic, no chlorophyll (see lecture on parasitic plants)

Bignoniaceae — mostly tropical trees and lianas