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. densiflora (Benth.) Chuang & Heckard

Annual 10–40 cm, subglabrous
Leaf 20–80 mm; lobes 0–3, linear-lanceolate
Inflorescence 3–25 cm, 2.5–4 cm wide; bracts 10–25 mm, tipped white or purplish, lobes 3–5, linear
Flower: calyx 5–20 mm, divided 1/2 in front and on sides, 2/3 in back, lobes ± linear, tip wider; corolla 10–25 mm, pale yellow, pink, or purplish red, beak 5–6 mm, straight, puberulent, lower lip 4–5 mm, pouches 4–6 mm wide, 2–3 mm deep; stigma ± exserted, ± 2-lobed
Fruit 7–10 mm
Seed ± 0.5 mm; coat shallowly netted, loose-fitting
Chromosomes: 2n=24 (all subspp.)
Ecology: Grassland
Elevation: < 1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast Ranges, c Sierra Nevada Foothills, s Central Coast, South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Synonyms: Orthocarpus d. Benth
Highly variable; many local forms; more study needed.

Native

subsp. gracilis (Benth.) Chuang & Heckard

Inflorescence rose-purple; bracts < flowers
Flower: corolla exserted, lower lip widened abruptly, pouches generally shorter than deep, teeth generally < 1 mm
Ecology: Grassland
Elevation: < 1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Synonyms: O. d. var. g. (Benth.) D.D. Keck