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.

COLLINSIA

Elizabeth Chase Neese

Annual, often glandular, sometimes brown-staining
Leaves opposite; lower petioled
Inflorescence bracted, often interrupted; flowers 1–many in leaf axils
Flower: calyx 5-lobed; corolla ± pea-like, generally glabrous outside, tube short, throat ± angled to tube, ± pouched on upper side, lips generally ± = throat, upper lobes 2, ± reflexed, generally paler, lower lobes 3, lateral spreading, central lobe keeled, enclosing stamens and style; stamens 4, attached unequally near throat base; staminode gland-like
Fruit septicidal and loculicidal (valves 2-lobed)
Seeds generally few, ± oblong, generally plump; inner surface ± hollow
Species in genus: ± 18 species: North America, especially CA
Etymology: (Zaccheus Collins, 1764–1831, Philadelphia botanist)
Late-season flowers generally atypically small.

Native

C. parviflora Lindl.

BLUE-EYED MARY

Plant 3–40 cm
Leaf ± linear-lanceolate, obtuse, generally rolled under
Inflorescence open, leafy, glabrous to sparsely and finely glandular; pedicels > calyx, generally 1 per node below, 3–5 per node above, often reflexed
Flower: calyx > 2/3 corolla, ± = fruit, lobes sharply acute to acuminate; corolla 4–8 mm, throat barely angled to tube, tube and throat white, narrowed to lips, pouch angular, ± hidden by calyx, upper lip whitish or blue-tipped, main lobes ± 1 mm wide, oblong, generally blue (purplish)
Seeds generally 4
Chromosomes: n=7
Ecology: Common. Moist, ± shady places in mtns
Elevation: 800–3500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, e Canada, Colorado
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Horticultural information: TRY.