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.

KECKIELLA

Noel H. Holmgren

Subshrub or shrub
Stem wand-like to much-branched
Leaves drought-deciduous, ± opposite or in 3's, generally short-petioled
Inflorescence: panicle or spike-like; bracts small
Flower: calyx lobes 5, ± equal; corolla not purplish (whitish to red), short-glandular outside, upper lip hooded, lobes short, rounded, external in bud, lower lip rounded, lobes often reflexed; filaments densely nonglandular-hairy at base, anthers small, glabrous, anther sacs generally spreading flat at dehiscence; staminode well developed, glabrous to densely bearded; nectary a disk; stigma head-like
Fruit ovoid, septicidal and sometimes also loculicidal at tip
Seeds many, irregularly angled or ± winged
Species in genus: 7 species: especially CA
Etymology: (David D. Keck, CA botanist, 1903–1995)
Reference: [Straw 1966 Brittonia 18:80–95]
Segregated from Penstemon.

Native

K. breviflora (Lindl.) Straw

Stem 5–20 dm; young stems glabrous, glaucous
Leaves opposite, subsessile; main leaves 10–40 mm, ± (ob)lanceolate, generally serrate
Inflorescence glabrous to sticky-hairy
Flower: calyx 4–8 mm, lobes lanceolate to ovate, acuminate; corolla 12–18 mm, white or cream, lobes sometimes rose-tinged, lined purplish or pinkish, tube + throat 4–8 mm, upper lip 8–12 mm; anther sacs 0.6–0.8 mm; staminode glabrous, slightly exserted
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Rocky slopes, forest, chaparral
Elevation: < 2700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, Outer South Coast Ranges, Western Transverse Ranges
Distribution outside California: w Nevada