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. sparsiflora Fisch. & C.A. Mey.

Plant 5–30 cm
Leaf generally linear to oblong, entire
Inflorescence open, glabrous to finely hairy, nonglandular; pedicels 1–2(3) per node, generally >> calyx
Flower: calyx lobes sharply acute to long-tapered, generally ciliate, generally >> fruit; corolla generally lavender to purple (white), middle lobe sparsely long-hairy near tip; upper filaments (sparsely) short-spreading-hairy
Fruit spheric; top red-blotched, revealed by spreading calyx lobes
Seeds 4–12, roundish, flat, generally cupped, winged
Ecology: Grassy disturbed areas, old fields, chaparral
Elevation: < 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Central Valley, Central Western California.Variable; more study needed.

Native

var. collina (Jeps.) Newsom

Flower: corolla 5–8 mm, throat barely angled to tube, pouch hidden by calyx
Ecology: Disturbed grassy fields, roadbanks, open chaparral and foothill woodland
Elevation: 100–1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges.Widespread intermediates to var. sparsiflora have been called var. bruceae (M.E. Jones) Newsom.