SCROPHULARIACEAE - Figwort or Snapdragon
Family
Herbs or undershrubs, several climbers, some root parasites
Leaves alternate, opposite, or whorled, simple
Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic,
5th stamen sometimes a staminode inserted on corolla, corolla
2-lipped, variable infls., flowers often large
and showy
190 genera, 4000 species, cosmopolitan distribution
Major genera:
Pedicularis
Scrophularia
Verbascum - wooly
mullein
Penstemon
Veronica (atypical--with
4-merous perianth)
Economic importance: ornamentals, root parasites
Medicinal uses - Digitalis produces
digitalin - a steroid used as a cardiac stimulant
Diagnostic characteristics: 5-merous (stamens 2 or 4), zygomorphic,
corolla 2-lipped, sometimes a 5th staminode present, Scrophulariaceae
can be easily mistaken for Lamiaceae but stems are not square and
style is not gynobasic
IMAGE GALLERY
FLOWERING
PLANT GATEWAY