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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.

CORDYLANTHUS

BIRD'S-BEAK

T.I. Chuang and Lawrence R. Heckard

Annual, green root-parasites, generally much-branched
Leaves sessile, 0–11-lobed
Inflorescence: spike (subtended by outer bracts) or flowers solitary (each subtended by outer bracts) but often clustered; outer bracts ± leaf-like; inner bract calyx-like (formerly confused with calyx)
Flower: calyx generally divided to base in front, sheath-like, tip generally entire or shallowly notched; corolla ± club-shaped, upper lip beak-like, enclosing anthers and style, tip closed, lower lip ± = upper, pouched, middle lobe generally tightly rolled under; stamens generally 4, anther sacs 1–2 per stamen, unequal; style bent near tip, stigma unexpanded, ± exserted downward from closed beak tip
Fruit loculicidal
Seeds generally 10–20, attached at side; coat netted or ridged, tight-fitting
Species in genus: 18 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: club-shaped flower)
[Chuang & Heckard, 1986 Syst Bot Monogr 10:1–105] Close to Orthocarpus , distinguished by inflorescence and calyx. Generally flowers late summer.

Native

C. tenuis A. Gray

Plant 20–120 cm, (gray- or yellow-)green or tinged maroon, glabrous to glandular-sticky
Stem ± wiry
Leaf 10–60 mm, ± linear
Inflorescence: flowers solitary, 1–7 in loose clusters; outer bracts 1–4, 5–20 mm, linear, entire or 3-lobed, tips generally ± wider (< 1.5 mm) and thickened, longest hairs < 2 mm; inner bract 10–20 mm
Flower: calyx 10–20 mm; corolla 10–20 mm, 4–8 mm wide, whitish, ± yellow-tipped, heavily blotched maroon; stamens 4, anther sacs 2
Seeds 6–16, 1.5–2.5 mm, ± ovoid or angled, finely wavy-striate, dark brown
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Open woodland or forest, serpentine outcrops
Elevation: < 2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: Oregon
Highly variable. Close to C. pilosus.

Native

subsp. pallescens (Pennell) Chuang & Heckard

PALLID BIRD'S-BEAK


Stem generally puberulent and long-hairy, generally nonglandular
Leaf linear
Inflorescence loose, generally 3–6-flowered; outer bracts 3-lobed; inner bract hairs < 1 mm
Flower: corolla 10–15 mm
Ecology: Open volcanic alluvium
Elevation: 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Cascade Range (near Black Butte, Siskiyou Co.)
Synonyms: C. p. Pennell
1 large population.

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