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. miniata Hook.

Perennial 40–80 cm, few-branched, green or becoming purplish, glabrous, to long-soft-hairy above
Leaf 30–60 mm, ± lanceolate, entire; tip acute
Inflorescence 3–15 cm; bracts 15–35 mm, lobes 0–5, bright red to yellowish
Flower: calyx 10–30 mm, divided 1/2–2/3 in back, more deeply in front, ± 1/4 on sides, lobes acute; corolla 15–40 mm, beak ± = tube, yellow-green, back puberulent, margins red, lower lip 1–2 mm, dark green, slightly exserted; stigma slightly 2-lobed
Fruit 6–12 mm
Seed 1.5–2 mm; coat shallowly netted, loose-fitting, inner walls membranous, persistent
Ecology: Moist places, especially meadows, bogs
Elevation: < 3500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, c-w Central Western California, Southwestern California, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Rocky Mtns

Native

subsp. miniata

Stem stout
Inflorescence generally bright red (orange-red)
Flower: calyx 15–30 mm; corolla 20–40 mm
Fruit 10–12 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=24,48,72,96,120
Ecology: Common. Wet montane meadows, streambanks
Elevation: generally 1500–3500 m. Range of sp.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, c-w Central Western California, Southwestern California, Great Basin Floristic Province
Flowering time: May–Sep
Plants from lowland s NCoRO (Pitkin Marsh, Sonoma Co., ± 240 m) with yellow inflorescence have been called C. uliginosa Eastw., Pitkin Marsh Indian paintbrush
Horticultural information: DRN, IRR, SUN, with host: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17; DFCLT.