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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.

CORDYLANTHUS

BIRD'S-BEAK

T.I. Chuang and Lawrence R. Heckard

Annual, green root-parasites, generally much-branched
Leaves sessile, 0–11-lobed
Inflorescence: spike (subtended by outer bracts) or flowers solitary (each subtended by outer bracts) but often clustered; outer bracts ± leaf-like; inner bract calyx-like (formerly confused with calyx)
Flower: calyx generally divided to base in front, sheath-like, tip generally entire or shallowly notched; corolla ± club-shaped, upper lip beak-like, enclosing anthers and style, tip closed, lower lip ± = upper, pouched, middle lobe generally tightly rolled under; stamens generally 4, anther sacs 1–2 per stamen, unequal; style bent near tip, stigma unexpanded, ± exserted downward from closed beak tip
Fruit loculicidal
Seeds generally 10–20, attached at side; coat netted or ridged, tight-fitting
Species in genus: 18 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: club-shaped flower)
[Chuang & Heckard, 1986 Syst Bot Monogr 10:1–105] Close to Orthocarpus , distinguished by inflorescence and calyx. Generally flowers late summer.

Native

C. eremicus (Coville & C.V. Morton) Munz

Plant 10–80 cm, (yellow-)green, often tinged red, canescent
Leaf 10–40 mm, thread-like or linear, entire to 5-lobed
Inflorescence: spike, 15–25 mm, 3–14-flowered; outer bracts 3–7, 5–20 mm, lobes 3–7; inner bract 10–18 mm
Flower: calyx 10–18 mm, tube 1–3 mm; corolla 10–20 mm, purplish, pinkish, or yellow-green, often yellow-tipped, throat base blotched maroon, pouch 4–6 mm wide, soft-white-hairy; stamens 4, anther sacs 2
Seed 1.5–2 mm, ± ovoid, deeply netted, pale brown
Chromosomes: 2n=26
Ecology: Dry rocks
Elevation: generally 1800–3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: s High Sierra Nevada, n San Bernardino Mountains, n Desert Mountains.

Native

subsp. kernensis Chuang & Heckard

INYO BIRD'S-BEAK


Inflorescence: outer bracts distinctly bristly, tips not wider, unthickened, uncolored
Flower: calyx tube 1 mm; corolla generally pinkish
Seed smooth between nets
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Open Jeffrey-pine or juniper forest
Elevation: 2100–3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: s High Sierra Nevada (Kern Plateau, Tulare and Inyo cos.).

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bioregional map for CORDYLANTHUS%20eremicus%20subsp.%20kernensis being generated
 
N.B. The distribution depicted here differs from that given in The Jepson Manual (1993)

Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Cordylanthus eremicus subsp. kernensis
Retrieve dichotomous key for Cordylanthus
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