Scrophulariaceae

Figwort Family

Family Description

The Scrophs are cosmopolitan dicotyledonous annual or perennial herbs, or rarely woody shrubs, with 220 genera and 3000 species. Leaves are alternate, opposite, or rarely whorled, usually simple, and without stipules. Flowers are 5-merous, usually zygomorphic, frequently spurred, and often forming spurs with 2 lips. The calyx is a fused tube. Flowers are often borne terminally in spikes, racemes or cymes. All colors are found. The fruit is usually a many-seeded capsule; sometimes a berry.

Diagnostic characteristics include

• zygomorphic, often 2-lipped and spurred flowers
• conspicuous many-seeded capsule

The family is divided into 3 subfamilies.

The figwort family, as a group, are easily grown in sunny, but cool, well drained sites. Propagation is by division, cuttings or seed. Seeds germinate easily at temperatures above 65°F. Pests are usually not serious.

Important ornamentals in this group include: Agalinis, Alonsoa, Antirrhinum, Asarina, Besseya, Buchnera, Calceolaria, Castilleja, Celsia, Chelone, Chionophila, Collinsia, Cymbalaria, Diascia, Digitalis, Erinus, Halleria, Hebe, Isoplexis, Leucophyllum, Linaria, Mazus, Mimulus, Nemesia, Orthocarpus, Parahebe, Penhstemon, Phygelius, Rhinanthus, Selago, Sopubia, Tonella, Torenia, Verbascum, Veronica, Walafrida, Wulfenia and Zaluzianskya.

Representative Species

LSU Horticulture Department Julian C. Miller Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803 225.578.2158