SCROPHULARIACEAE

FIGWORT FAMILY

Lawrence R. Heckard, Family Coordinator

Annual to shrubs, generally glandular, some green root-parasites
Stem generally round
Leaves generally alternate, simple, generally ± entire; stipules generally 0
Inflorescence: spike to panicle, generally bracted, or flowers 1–2 in axils
Flower bisexual; calyx lobes generally 5; corolla generally strongly bilateral, generally 2-lipped (upper lip generally 2-lobed, lower lip generally 3-lobed); stamens generally 4 in 2 pairs, generally included, a 5th (generally uppermost) sometimes present as a staminode; pistil 1, ovary superior, chambers generally 2, placentas axile, style 1, stigma lobes generally 2
Fruit: capsule, generally ± ovoid, loculicidal or septicidal
Seed: coat sculpture often characteristic
Genera in family: ± 200 genera, 3000 species: ± worldwide; some cultivated as ornamental (e.g., Antirrhinum, Mimulus, Penstemon ) or medicinal (Digitalis )
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include only Buddleja, Scrophularia, and Verbascum in CA; other genera moved to Orobanchaceae (Castilleja, Cordylanthus, Orthocarpus, Pedicularis, Triphysaria), Phrymaceae (Mimulus), and Plantaginaceae (= Veronicaceae sensu Olmstead et al.)
Key to genera by Elizabeth Chase Neese & Margriet Wetherwax.

CASTILLEJA

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH, OWL'S-CLOVER

T.I. Chuang and Lawrence R. Heckard

Annual to subshrub, green root-parasites
Leaves sessile, entire to dissected
Inflorescence spike-like; bracts becoming shorter, wider, more lobed than leaves, tips generally colored
Flower: calyx generally unequally 4-lobed, generally colored like bract tips; corolla upper lip beak-like, tip open, lower lip generally reduced, 3-toothed to -pouched; stamens 4; anther sacs 2, unequal; stigma entire to 2-lobed, generally exserted
Fruit loculicidal, ± ovoid, ± asymmetric
Seed generally ± brown, attached at base; coat netted, net-like walls sometimes aligned ladder-like
Species in genus: ± 200 species: especially w North America
Etymology: (Domingo Castillejo, Spanish botanist)
Reference: [Chuang & Heckard 1991 Syst Bot 16:644–666]
Highly variable within and between populations. Hybridization and polyploidy common; polyploid forms may have separate ranges or be ± identifiable within populations by minor characters. Biologically consistent taxa very difficult to define
Horticultural information: TRY with host; usually DFCLT.

Native

C. affinis Hook. & Arn.

Perennial 15–60 cm, few-branched with short axillary shoots, (yellow-)green becoming purplish, ± glabrous to bristly, generally nonglandular
Leaf 30–80 mm, linear to narrowly oblong; lobes 0–5, tips obtuse or rounded
Inflorescence 5–30 cm; bracts 17–25 mm, lobes 0–5, bright red to yellow (generally lighter upward)
Flower: calyx 15–35 mm, divided ± 1/3–1/2 in back and front, ± 1/4–1/3 on sides, long-nonglandular- and short-glandular-hairy, lobes acute to rounded; corolla 18–40 mm, beak ± 1–1.5 X tube, back generally shaggy-hairy, margins reddish or yellowish, lower lip 2–3 mm, green to dark violet; stigma slightly notched
Fruit 10–15 mm
Seed 1.5–2 mm; coat deeply netted, tight-fitting, most walls ladder-like
Ecology: Sea bluffs, dry places in chaparral
Elevation: < 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: n&c North Coast, n&s Outer North Coast Ranges, s Inner North Coast Ranges, n Cascade Range Foothills, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Western California, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: Oregon, Baja California
Many forms, some geog isolated; hybridizes with other species

Native

subsp. affinis

Plant ± bristly
Leaf 30–80 mm, ± lanceolate; lobes 0–5
Inflorescence 30–50 mm wide, generally bright red to orange-red (yellow)
Flower: calyx 20–35 mm; corolla 25–40 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=48,72, 96
Ecology: Chaparral, coastal scrub
Elevation: < 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: c North Coast (Mendocino Co.), n Outer North Coast Ranges (Humboldt Co.), s Outer North Coast Ranges, n Cascade Range Foothills, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Western California, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Synonyms: subsp. insularis (Eastw.) Munz
Plants of n CCo with ± fleshy leaves, inflated calyx, and less exserted corolla beak have been called C. inflata Pennell. Dune plants of s CCo, n SCo with some branched hairs may represent past hybridization with diploid C. mollis of n ChI.