TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • 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.

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. ambigua Hook. & Arn.

JOHNNY-NIP

Annual 10–30 cm, generally much-branched and decumbent, puberulent
Leaf 10–50 mm, lanceolate to ovate; lobes 0–5
Inflorescence 3–12 cm, 3–4 cm wide, often dense; bracts 15–25 mm, oblong to ovate, tipped white to rose-purple, lobes 3–9, central lobe generally rounded
Flower: calyx 12–20 mm, divided 1/2 in front and on sides, 2/3 in back, lobes linear; corolla 14–25 mm, pale yellow or rose-purple, beak 4–5 mm, straight, puberulent, lower lip 3–4 mm, pouches 3–7 mm wide, 1–2 mm deep, generally purple-dotted at base, teeth 1–3 mm; stigma generally ± exserted
Fruit 8–12 mm
Seed ± 1–2 mm; coat shallowly netted, tight-fitting
Chromosomes: 2n=24 (all subspp.)
Ecology: Coastal bluffs, salt marshes, grassland
Elevation: < 150 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, s North Coast Ranges, n&c Central Coast
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Highly variable and difficult; many local, ± ecological forms; needs more study
Synonyms: Orthocarpus castillejoides Benth

Native

subsp. insalutata (Jeps.) Chuang & Heckard

Plant much-branched, not fleshy
Inflorescence ± rose-purple; bract tips acute or rounded
Flower: corolla ± rose-purple, lower lip teeth 1.5–2 mm
Seed ± 1 mm
Ecology: Grassy coastal bluffs
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: c Central Coast (Monterey, San Luis Obispo cos.)
Synonyms: O. c. var. i. Jeps

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for CASTILLEJA%20ambigua%20subsp.%20insalutata being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Castilleja ambigua subsp. insalutata
Retrieve dichotomous key for Castilleja
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California