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  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

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.

VERONICA

SPEEDWELL, BROOKLIME

Margriet Wetherwax

Annual, perennial herb
Stem erect or prostrate
Leaves opposite
Inflorescence: raceme, terminal or axillary, or flowers solitary in axils; bracts small, alternate
Flower: sepals generally 4(5), ± free, generally unequal; corolla ± rotate, 4-lobed, upper lobe wide (formed by fusion of upper pair), blue or violet to white; stamens 2, exserted; stigma head-like
Fruit: capsule, flattened perpendicular to septum, generally obcordate, loculicidal and septicidal
Species in genus: ± 250 species: n temp, especially Eurasia
Etymology: (Possibly named for Saint Veronica)

Introduced

V. persica Poir.

PERSIAN SPEEDWELL

Annual, taprooted, hairy
Stem prostrate, simple or branched, 5–60 cm
Leaf 5–25 mm, ovate, truncate, dentate to crenate, acute to obtuse, short-petioled
Inflorescence terminal, open; pedicels 15–30 mm, recurved in fruit
Flower: sepals 4–7 mm, lanceolate to ovate; corolla 8–12 mm, blue, purple-lined, center white; style 2–3 mm
Fruit much wider than long; lobes spreading; notch 0.7–1.2 mm
Seeds 5–11 per chamber, ± 2 mm, cup-shaped, rough
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Lawns, fields
Elevation: < 1100 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: N.America; native to Asia Minor

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