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. nanus Hook. & Arn.

Annual, 1–10 cm, ± puberulent
Leaf 7–25 mm, oblanceolate to obovate; lower surface ± purple; tip obtuse to rounded
Flower: pedicel 1–4 mm; calyx 6–10 mm, puberulent, lobes ± unequal, 1–4 mm, acute to ± long-tapered, mouth in fruit slightly oblique; corolla persistent, magenta to purplish, tube-throat 11–19 mm, throat floor generally with 2 gold stripes surrounded by and often dotted deeper magenta; stigma ± exserted; placentas parietal
Fruit 6–12 mm
Chromosomes: n=8
Ecology: Sandy runoff areas above streamlets or in bare openings among shrubs
Elevation: generally 1000–2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, High Cascade Range, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Montana, Wyoming
Flowering time: Mid May–late Jul
Intermediates with M. mephiticus (e GB), with M. layneae in NW
Horticultural information: WET, DRN, SHD: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24.