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. torreyi A. Gray

Plant 5–25 cm
Leaf linear to ovate, entire to toothed, glabrous
Inflorescence open, densely glandular, staining; bracts much reduced upward; pedicels generally >> calyx, some sharply reflexed in fruit, S-shaped
Flower: calyx lobes subacute to blunt, ± = fruit; corolla 4–10 mm, throat angled to tube, as wide as long, throat and lower lip generally blue (lavender purplish), upper lip whitish or pale lavender
Seeds 2
Ecology: Coniferous forest, often in sandy, granitic soil
Elevation: 800–4000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, Modoc Plateau.

Native

var. latifolia Newsom

Leaf elliptic to ovate (generally 2–5 X longer than wide)
Flower: corolla generally 6–9 mm, middle lobe ± = lateral
Ecology: Habitats of sp.
Elevation: 1000–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, Modoc Plateau.