| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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.
Annual to perennial herb, generally glabrous
Stem ascending to erect, simple or branched at base
Leaves generally opposite or whorled (or upper alternate), sessile, simple, linear to ovate, generally wider on non-flower shoots, entire to dentate, pinnately veined
Inflorescence: spike or raceme, terminal; bracts reduced, alternate
Flower: calyx lobes 5, deep, ± equal; corolla 5-lobed, 2-lipped, lower side of tube spurred at base, lower side of throat swollen, ± hairy, ± closing corolla below lips; stamens 4, in 2 pairs, included; stigma small, head-like or lobes 2, flat
Fruit ± spheric, opening by slits into chambers near tip
Seeds many, flat and winged or pyramid-like and ± ridged
Species in genus: ± 100 species: especially Eurasia; many cultivated
Etymology: (Latin: flax, from flax-like leaves of some)
Corolla length includes spur.
| Introduced |
Perennial, glabrous
Stem erect, 20–120 cm, branched
Leaves crowded, < 60 mm, lanceolate to ovate, acute to long-tapered, ± clasping, rigid
Inflorescence dense to open; pedicels 1–13 mm, ± = bracts
Flower: calyx 2–12 mm, lobes linear to triangular-ovate; corolla 20–50 mm, yellow, lower lip closing throat, densely white- to orange-hairy
Fruit 3–7 mm
Seed ± 1.2 mm, ± pyramid-like, ridged
Chromosomes: 2n=12
Ecology: Disturbed places, pastures, fields
Elevation: generally < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: widely naturalized elsewhere; native to Mediterranean
Synonyms: L. d. (L.) Mill
Weedy.