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.

COLLINSIA

Elizabeth Chase Neese

Annual, often glandular, sometimes brown-staining
Leaves opposite; lower petioled
Inflorescence bracted, often interrupted; flowers 1–many in leaf axils
Flower: calyx 5-lobed; corolla ± pea-like, generally glabrous outside, tube short, throat ± angled to tube, ± pouched on upper side, lips generally ± = throat, upper lobes 2, ± reflexed, generally paler, lower lobes 3, lateral spreading, central lobe keeled, enclosing stamens and style; stamens 4, attached unequally near throat base; staminode gland-like
Fruit septicidal and loculicidal (valves 2-lobed)
Seeds generally few, ± oblong, generally plump; inner surface ± hollow
Species in genus: ± 18 species: North America, especially CA
Etymology: (Zaccheus Collins, 1764–1831, Philadelphia botanist)
Late-season flowers generally atypically small.

Native

C. bartsiifolia Benth.

Plant 7–35 cm
Leaf generally 1–4 cm, ± oblong, thickish, obtuse, crenate, rolled under, generally finely hairy
Inflorescence interrupted, ± finely glandular or shaggy; whorls dense; pedicels < calyx
Flower: calyx lobes ± blunt; corolla glabrous outside, generally whitish to pinkish lavender (purplish), veiny when pressed, throat longer than wide, hairy inside, lips ± equal; upper lobes ± oblong, toothed, often back-to-back, lateral lobes obovate, notched; upper filaments hairy, spur 0–0.5 mm
Seeds many, ± plump
Chromosomes: n=7
Ecology: Open sandy places
Elevation: < 1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range Foothills, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Western California, w Mojave Desert.Variable; sometimes intergrades with C. corymbosa, C. heterophylla, C. tinctoria ; more study needed.

Native

var. davidsonii (Parish) Newsom

Flower: corolla 9–14 mm, generally pale lavender to purple
Seeds ± 1.5 mm
Ecology: Habitats of sp.
Elevation: 500–1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Inner South Coast Ranges, w Mojave Desert
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Plants intermediate to C. tinctoria have been called C. stricta Greene
Horticultural information: TRY.