Scrophulariaceae

Plant Sex: Flowers usually bisexual.

Flowers: Zygomorphic (2-lipped) to almost actinomorphic (Veronica). Stamens 2 or 2 + 2 (DIDYNAMOUS); sometimes the 5th. stamen is present as a staminode. Ovary with 2 locules, many ovules on axile placentae.

Inflorescence: Various.

Fruits: Two-valved capsule with many tiny seeds.

Habit: Annual herbs to large trees or climbers.

Leaves: Alternate, opposite, whorled; simple with no stipules

Examples:

Scrophulariaceae s. str.

Scrophularia

S. marilandica (late figwort). Plant in flower. Inflorescence. Flower to fruit developmental series. Fruits.

Verbascum

V. thapsus (mullein). Rosette of leaves. Plant in flower.
V. phoeniceum. Flowers of this beautiful cultivar.

Plantaginaceae s. lat.

Antirrhinum

A. majus (snapdragon). Flowering plants in cultivation Flower L.S.

Collinsia

C. verna (blue-eyed Mary). Large population of plants in flower. Inflorescence. Flowers. Flower L.S.

Digitalis

D. purpurea (foxglove). Population of foxglove at Kew. Inflorescence. Flowering shoot. Flowers and young fruits.

Linaria

L. vulgaris (toadflax, butter & eggs). Habit of plant in flower. Fruits.
L. maroccana. Flowering shoots showing color variation in this cultivar. Flowers close-up.

Penstemon

P. pallidus (beard-tongue). Habit of plant in flower around SIUC campus lake.
P. hirsutus. Inflorescence. Flowers. Flower L.S. Fruits.

Plantago

P. lanceolata (plantain). Inflorescence. Flowers.

Veronica

V. cusickii (speedwell). Habit of the tiny plant from Glacier N.P.
Veronica sp. Face view of nearly actinomorphic flower showing the presence of just two stamens. This genus is taxonomically difficult.

Orobanchaceae (89/2046)

All members of this clade are parasitic, except the basalmost genus Lindenbergia. Some are parasites but still photosynthesize, and these are called hemiparasites. Others have completely lost photosynthetic ability and are called holoparasites. These plants attach to their hosts via modified roots called haustoria. See the Parasitic Plant Connection for more information on these plants.

Hemiparasites
Agalinis

A. tenuifolia (gerardia). Inflorescence. Flowers. Flower. Flowers L.S.

Castilleja

C. coccinea (indian paintbrush). Habit of plant. Inflorescence showing colorful bracts. Flowers.

Pedicularis

P. canadensis (lousewort). Habit of plant. Inflorescence. Infructescence. Another view of fruits.

Striga

S. asiatica (witchweed). Habit of plant attached to maize, its host. Life cycle of witchweed.

Holoparasites
Epifagus

E. virginiana (beechdrops). Habit of plant parasitic on Fagus grandifolia (beech). Flowering shoots against beech leaves. Flowers close-up.

Conopholis

C. americana (squawroot) . Habit of plant. C. alpina excavated to show haustorial attachment to root of oak tree host.

Orobanche

O. cernua (broomrape). Parasites attacking tomato. Parasites on sunflower.
The vast majority of Orobanche species are not pathogens. In fact, some are even endangered plants as shown on this page highlighting O. californicum.

SIUC / College of Science / Elements of Plant Systematics
URL: http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/PLB304/Lecture22Lamial/Scrophulariaceae.html
Last updated: 14-Apr-08 / dln