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.

COLLINSIA

Elizabeth Chase Neese

Annual, often glandular, sometimes brown-staining
Leaves opposite; lower petioled
Inflorescence bracted, often interrupted; flowers 1–many in leaf axils
Flower: calyx 5-lobed; corolla ± pea-like, generally glabrous outside, tube short, throat ± angled to tube, ± pouched on upper side, lips generally ± = throat, upper lobes 2, ± reflexed, generally paler, lower lobes 3, lateral spreading, central lobe keeled, enclosing stamens and style; stamens 4, attached unequally near throat base; staminode gland-like
Fruit septicidal and loculicidal (valves 2-lobed)
Seeds generally few, ± oblong, generally plump; inner surface ± hollow
Species in genus: ± 18 species: North America, especially CA
Etymology: (Zaccheus Collins, 1764–1831, Philadelphia botanist)
Late-season flowers generally atypically small.

Native

C. multicolor Lindl. & Paxton

SAN FRANCISCO COLLINSIA

Plant generally 30–60 cm
Stem loosely branched, weak
Leaves: middle and upper lanceolate-deltate, clasping, coarsely toothed
Inflorescence ± glandular-clammy, lowermost pedicels 1–2 per node, >> calyx, upper ones 3+, ± crowded, ± = calyx
Flower: calyx lobes acute; corolla 12–18 mm, throat longer than wide, pouch rounded, not prominent, upper lip whitish, not or faintly dotted and lined, lower lip lavender to bluish purple, lateral lobes obovate, notched, middle lobe sometimes sparsely hairy; upper filaments hairy, spur 0–0.5 mm
Seeds 8+, ± plump
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Moist, ± shady scrub, forests
Elevation: < 250 m.
Bioregional distribution: n&c Central Coast, n Outer South Coast Ranges
Synonyms: C. franciscana Bioletti
Horticultural information: TRY.