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.

MIMULUS

MONKEYFLOWER

David M. Thompson

Annual to shrub, glabrous to hairy
Stem generally erect
Leaves opposite, generally ± sessile, generally toothed or generally entire, reddish or generally green
Inflorescence: raceme, bracted, or flowers generally 2 per axil
Flower sometimes cleistogamous; calyx generally green, lobes 5, generally << tube, equal or not, generally uppermost largest; corolla generally deciduous, white to red, maroon, purple, gold or yellow, limb width measured at widest point looking into flower, lower lip base sometimes swollen, ± closing mouth, tube-throat floor generally with 2 longitudinal folds; pollen chambers spreading; placentas 2, axile or parietal; stigma lobes generally leaf-like, generally included
Fruit generally ovoid to fusiform, generally upcurved if elongate, generally ± fragile, loculicidal near tip (sometimes hard, indehiscent); chambers 1–2
Seeds many, generally < 1 mm, ovoid, yellowish to dark brown
Species in genus: ± 100 species: w North America, Chile, eastern Asia, s Africa, New Zealand, Australia
Etymology: (Latin: little mime or comic actor, from face-like corolla limb of some)
Reference: [Grant 1924 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 11:99–388]

Native

M. primuloides Benth.

Perennial; rhizomes or stolons forming mats of ± distinct rosettes or tufted plants; forming bulblets in autumn
Stem 0.5–12 cm, glabrous
Leaf 7–50 mm, linear to obovate; upper surface glabrous to densely long-hairy; veins 3, palmate
Flower: pedicel 10–120 mm, stiffly erect; calyx 5–12 mm, glabrous, lobes equal, 0.5–1.5 mm; corolla yellow, tube-throat 8–20 mm, base of each lower lip lobe generally with reddish spot; placentas axile
Fruit 6–7 mm
Ecology: Wet meadows, seeps, streamsides
Elevation: 600–3400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Nevada

Native

subsp. linearifolius (A.L. Grant) Munz

Stem 4–12 cm, tufted
Leaves ± erect, some ± basal but not in rosettes, all intermingled with those of nearby stems, 15–50 mm, linear to oblanceolate
Flower: calyx 7–12 mm
Ecology: Habitats of sp.
Elevation: 600–2200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges
Horticultural information: WET or IRR, DRN: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 18 &SUN: 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17.