Modern molecular data indicates that the traditional Scrophulariaceae is NOT a monophyletic family. In the textbook by Judd et al., most of the traditional Scrophulariaceae are placed in another family, the Plantaginaceae, while the Scrophulariaceae is used in a very strict sense. Scrophulariaceae 03 Herbaceous habit 03-Herbaceous habit Most members of the Scrophulariaceae are herbaceous plants, either perennial or annual. This is Digitalis purpurea, from which a drug is obtained that is used to treat various heart disorders. Photo by K. R. Robertson along a roadside near Loch Tay in Scotland. Scrophulariaceae 04 Zygomorphic corollas 04-Zygomorphic corolla The flowers of the Scrophulariaceae have a sympetalous corolla that are typically zygomorphic, somewhat tubular, and 2-lipped (bilabiate). The upper lip is formed from 2 petals while the lower lip is formed from 3 petals. This example is pale beardstongue, Penstemon pallidus.
The flowers are well adapted for pollination by bees. Note that the lower lip forms a landing platform, while the stigmas protrude rather to scrape pollen off a landing insect. The anthers are at two heights (didynamous) at the top of the flower, ready to deposit pollen on bees as they enter the flowers. Photo by K. R. Robertson the Chicago Botanic Garden. Scrophulariaceae 05 Flower in face view 05-Flower face view Notice the didynamous stamens and how this flower is adapted for bee pollination. This example is pale beardstongue, Penstemon pallidus. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Nachusa Grassland, near Dixon, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 06 Flower in longitudinal section 06-Flower in l.s In this longitudinal section of a flower of pale beardstongue, Penstemon pallidus, note the didynamous stamens (2 of the 4 stamens are shown), the bilabiate corolla, the superior ovary (which does NOT have a gynobasic style), the 2-lobed stigmas, and the 5th sterile stamen, the staminodium. Photo by K. R. Robertson and D. L. Nickrent from plants at Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve, Will County, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 07 Loculicidal capsules 07-Loculicidal capsules The fruits of the Scrophulariaceae are usually 2-valved capsules, and there are many tiny seeds. This example is Linaria canadensis, blue toadflax. Photo by K. R. Robertson of plants growing near Henry Allen Gleason Nature Preserve, Mason County, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 08 Antirrhinum majus 08-Antirrhinum majus A frequently encountered member of this family is snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus, which is cultivated in flower gardens as well as used as a cut-flower. Note the strongly 2-lipped, zygomorphic corolla. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia. Scrophulariaceae 09 Flower in longitudinal section 09-Antirrhinum flower l.s In this longitudinal section of snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus, note that the internal structure is much the same as other Scrophulariaceae, although externally the flowers look quite different Photo by K. R. Robertson from plants cultivated at the University of Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 10 Calceolaria flowers 10-Calceolaria The flowers of the genus Calceolaria have the lower lip of the corolla inflated to form a sack-like structure Most species of Calceolaria are native to the mountains of Chile and Argentina. Photo by K. R. Robertson of a potted plant in a greenhouse at Wellesley College, Massachusetts. Scrophulariaceae 11 Castilleja coccinea 11-Castilleja coccinea The bright orange, showy parts of Indian paintbrush, Castilleja coccinea, are actually bracts (modified leaves), with a flower inside each bract. NOTE: Many members of the Scrophulariaceae are photosynthetic root parasites (hemiparasites), such as Indian paintbrush. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Gavin Bog and Prairie Nature Preserve in Lake County, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 12 Castilleja bracts 12-Castilleja bracts This inflorescence shows the large colorful bracts below each flower in Indian paintbrush, Castilleja coccinea. Photo K. R. Robertson at Illinois Beach State Park, Lake County. Scrophulariaceae 13 Castilleja flowers 13-Castilleja flowers While the flowers of Indian paintbrush, Castilleja coccinea, are complex, they have the typical structure found in the Scrophulariaceae. Photo by K. R. Robertson from plants collected at Illinois Beach State Park, Lake County. Scrophulariaceae 14 Castilleja seeds 14-Castilleja seeds The fruits of Castilleja are capsules, which contain very many tiny seeds. Each seed has a honeycomb seed coat to aid in wind dispersal. Photo by K. R. Robertson from seeds in the herbarium of the Illinois Natural History Survey. Scrophulariaceae 15 Chelone glabra 15-Chelone glabra The flowers of white turtlehead, Chelone glabra, are strongly zygomorphic and are pollinated by bees. Photo by K. R. Robertson taken in New Hampshire. Scrophulariaceae 16 Collinsia verna habit 16-Collinsia verna habit Blue-eyed Mary, Collinsia verna, is a lovely small annual woodland wildflower; it is only about 6 to 12 inches tall. Photo by K. R. Robertson of plants growing at Robert Allerton Park, Monticello, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 17 Collinsia verna flowers 17-Collinsia verna flowers The lovely flowers of Blue-eyed Mary, Collinsia verna, are strongly 2-lipped. Photo by K. R. Robertson of plants growing at Robert Allerton Park, Monticello, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 18 Collinsia flower in longitudinal section 18-Collinsia flower l.s The flowers of Blue-eyed Mary, Collinsia verna, have the typical flower structure of the Scrophulariaceae. Photo by K. R. Robertson and D. L. Nickrent of plants growing at Robert Allerton Park, Monticello, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 19 19-Digitalis purpurea The flowers of foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, are large and showy. As mentioned above under Image #3, a drug is obtained that is used to treat various heart disorders. Photo by K. R. Robertson along a roadside near Loch Tay in Scotland. Scrophulariaceae 20 20-Linaria vulgaris The flowers of Butter-and-eggs, Linaria vulgaris, have a long nectar spur (blue arrow). This species is a native of Europe but is now widely found as a weed in North America. Photo by K. R. Robertson at the Savanna Army Depot, Carroll County, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 21 Linaria canadensis 21-Linaria canadensis This species of Linaria, L. canadensis, is native to Illinois; it is called Blue toadflax. The flowers are quite small, only 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. Photo by K. R. Robertson at the Savanna Army Depot, Carroll County, Illinois Scrophulariaceae 22 Pedicularis canadensis 22-Pedicularis canadensis Plants of lousewort, Pedicularis canadensis, are hemiparasitic, like those of Indian paintbrush; see Image #11 above. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Weston Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve, McLean County, Illinois Scrophulariaceae 23 Pedicularis canadensis flowers 23-Pedicularis canadensis This closer view of an inflorescence of lousewort, Pedicularis canadensis, shows the strongly bilabiate (2-lipped) flowers. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Boyd Prairie south of Lawrence, Kansas. Scrophulariaceae 24 Pedicularis splash cup 24-Pedicularis splash cups The fruits of lousewort, Pedicularis canadensis, are capsules that only open on the upper side; they are an example of "splash-cup" dispersal. Photo montage by K. R. Robertson. Scrophulariaceae 25 Penstemon pallidus 25-Penstemon pallidus Penstemon pallidus, pale beardstongue, is frequently found in prairies in Illinois. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve, Will County, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 26 Penstemon cobaea 26-Penstemon cobaea Penstemon cobaea has large lavender flowers. It is native to the west of Illinois, but is also cultivated in perennial gardens. In this image, Penstemon cobaea (yellow arrow) is growing with pale cone flower (Echinacea pallida); the latter is a member of the Asteraceae. Photo by K. R. Robertson at the garden of Wesley Whiteside, Charleston, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 27 Striga asiatica 27-Striga asiatica Witchweed, Striga asiatica, is native to Africa. It is a hemiparasite (root parasite) and can be cause significant damage to crops, such as corn shown here, in Africa as well as in localized places in the southern United States. Photo by D. L. Nickrent. Scrophulariaceae 28 Verbascum thapsus 28-Verbascum thapsus Common mullein, Verbascum thapsus, is a biennial species and is native to Europe. It is now a frequent weed in the United States; it can sometimes grown as an ornamental plant, as seen here. Photo by K. R. Robertson at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Scrophulariaceae 29 29-Veronica polita The tiny flowers of the genus Veronica, speedwell, are almost actinomorphic. This species, Veronica polita, is only an inch or so tall. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Carter's Plantation, Williamsburg, Virginia. Scrophulariaceae 30 Veronicastrum virginicum 30-Veronicastrum virginicum Culver's root, Veronicastrum virginicum, is frequently found in prairies in Illinois. The plants are often 3 to 6 feet tall and have elongate inflorescences of small white flowers. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Twelve Mile Prairie, south of Effingham, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 31 Orobanche uniflora 31-Orobanche uniflora A group of totally parasitic plants are sometime included within the Scrophulariaceae. Most scientists today place them in the separate family Orobanchaceae. This example is Orobanche uniflora, one-flowered broomrape. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Starved Rock State Park, LaSalle County, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 32 Campsis radicans 32- Another plant family that is related to the Scrophulariaceae is the Bignoniaceae, which are mostly tropical trees and lianas. This example is found in Illinois, Campsis radicans, trumpet creeper, which is pollinated by hummingbirds. Photo by K. R. Robertson at Robert Allerton Park, Monticello, Illinois. Scrophulariaceae 33 Spathodea campanulata 33-Spathodea campanulata Many member of the Bignoniaceae have spectacular flowers, such as the orange-red flowers of Spathodea campanulata. The common name, African Tulip Tree, is a misnomer as this species is native to the American tropics. Photo by K. R. Robertson on the island of Madeira. Scrophulariaceae 34 34-Spathodea flowers The flowers of Spathodea campanulata are about 4 inches across. Photo by K. R. Robertson on Big Pine Key, Florida.