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.

ORTHOCARPUS

T.I. Chuang and Lawrence R. Heckard

Annual, green root-parasites
Leaves sessile, entire to 3-lobed
Inflorescence: spike; bracts entire to 5-lobed, tips generally colored
Flower: calyx 4-lobed, deepest sinus in back; corolla club-shaped, upper lip beak-like, tip closed, enclosing anthers and style, lower lip shorter, ± 3-pouched, generally 3-toothed; stamens 4, anther sacs 2, unequal; style and stigma slender
Fruit loculicidal, ± ovoid, generally ± notched
Seeds generally 8–15, often ± curved, ± keeled, attached at side; coat netted or ridged, tight-fitting
Species in genus: 9 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: straight fruit)
Reference: [Chuang & Heckard 1992 Syst Bot 17:560–582]
Close to Cordylanthus ; other species formerly placed here are in Castilleja (Owl's-clovers) or Triphysaria (Johnny-tuck).
Horticultural information: TRY with host; DFCLT.

Native

O. luteus Nutt.

Plant 10–40 cm, glandular- and longer-nonglandular-hairy, yellow-green, often becoming ± purple-tinged
Stem generally simple, slender
Leaf 15–50 mm, ± linear, entire or upper deeply 3-lobed
Inflorescence 5–20 cm, densely glandular-puberulent; bracts grading into upper leaves, 10–20 mm, ± green, 2 lateral lobes below middle, narrowly triangular, central lobe ± lanceolate, 2–5 mm wide
Flower: calyx 5–8 mm, divided 3/4 in back, 1/3 in front, 1/4 on sides; corolla 10–15 mm, golden-yellow, exserted, puberulent (especially beak), lips ± equal, beak 2–4 mm, tip minute, downward-projecting, cylindric, lower lip moderately pouched, teeth 0.5 mm, blunt, incurved; stigma included
Fruit 5–7 mm
Seeds 20–35, yellowish to dark brown
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Moist fields, sagebrush scrub, mtn meadows
Elevation: 1500–3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, north-central US, New Mexico
Flowering time: Jul–Aug