SCROPHULARIACEAE FIGWORT OR SNAPDRAGON FAMILY Plant: herbs mostly, few vines, shrubs or trees, some parasitic Stem: Root: Leaves: alternate, opposite, or whorled; simple or pinnate; no stipules Flowers: perfect, often showy, many irregular (zygomorphic); (2)4-5 sepals, lobed or cut; (2)4-5 regular petals, or corolla tubes that flare into upper and lower lips (2 lobes above, 3 below); stamens 2-4-5; ovary superior, 1 style Fruit: 2-chambered capsule or berry with 2 to many seeds, sometimes oily Other: a large family, distributed throughout the world; Dicotyledons Group Genera: 280+ genera; locally Agalinis, Aureolaria (false foxglove), Chelone (turtlehead), Linaria; Mimulus (monkey flower), Nuttallanthus (toadflax), Scrophularia (figwort), Verbascum (mullein), Veronicastrum (Culver s root), Veronica (speedwell) and others some authors are moving several major genera from here to the Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) WARNING family descriptions are only a layman s guide and should not be used as definitive
Flower Morphology in the Examples of a few genera (N-Z) [Canada] Blue Toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis (L.) D.A. Sutton Arkansas Beardtongue Penstemon arkansanus Pennell Late Figwort [Carpenter s Square] Scrophularia marilandica L. Bracted Lousewort Pedicularis bracteosa Benth. Culver s-root [-Physic] Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw. Common Mullein Verbascum thapsus L. (Introduced) Elephanthead Lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica Retz. Birdseye Speedwell Veronica persica Poir. (Introduced)
SCROPHULARIACEAE FIGWORT OR SNAPDRAGON FAMILY [Canada] Blue Toadflax; Nuttallanthus canadensis (L.) D.A. Sutton Texas Toadflax; Nuttallanthus texanus (Scheele) D.A. Sutton Princess Tree [Foxglovetree]; Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud. Bracted Lousewort; Pedicularis bracteosa Benth. Wood Betony [Lousewort; Canadian Lousewort]; Pedicularis canadensis L. ssp. canadensis Elephanthead Lousewort; Pedicularis groenlandica Retz. Swamp Lousewort; Pedicularis lanceolata Michx. Sickletop [Parrot s Beak] Lousewort; Pedicularis racemosa Douglas ex Benth. ssp. alba Pennell Sudetic [Alpine] Lousewort; Pedicularis sudetica Willd. ssp. scopulorum (A. Gray) Hultén Arkansas Beardtongue; Penstemon arkansanus Pennell Cobaea Beardtongue; Penstemon cobaea Nutt. [White; Talus Slope; Foxglove] Beard-Tongue; Penstemon digitalis Nutt. ex Sims Sawsepal [Smooth] Penstemon; Penstemon glaber Pursh Hairy Beard-Tongue; Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd. Pale Beardtongue; Penstemon pallidus Small Little Flower [Slender Blue] Penstemon; Penstemon procerus Douglas ex Graham White Wand Beardtongue; Penstemon tubiflorus Nutt. Whipple's Penstemon; Penstemon whippleanus A. Gray Late Figwort [Carpenter s Square]; Scrophularia marilandica L. Moth Mullein; Verbascum blattaria L. (Introduced) Common Mullein; Verbascum thapsus L. (Introduced) Culver s-root [-Physic]; Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw.
SCROPHULARIACEAE FIGWORT OR SNAPDRAGON FAMILY Water Speedwell; Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. Corn [Field] Speedwell; Veronica arvensis L. (Introduced) Ivyleaf Speedwell; Veronica hederifolia L. (Introduced) Common Speedwell [Gypsyweed]; Veronica officinalis L. (Introduced) Purslane Speedwell [Neckweed]; Veronica peregrina L. Birdseye Speedwell; Veronica persica Poir. (Introduced) Gray Field [Wayside] Speedwell; Veronica polita Fr. (Introduced) Thyme-Leaved Speedwell; Veronica serpyllifolia L. (Introduced) American Alpine Speedwell; Veronica wormskjoldii Roem. & Schult.
[Canada] Blue Toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis (L.) D.A. Sutton Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: strongly 2-lipped flower, long slender spur, blue with a white, 2-ridged almost closed palate, short pedicel, on raceme; leaves linear, alternate, sessile; stem just barely winged; sandy soils; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2008]
Texas Toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus (Scheele) D.A. Sutton Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Comanche County, Oklahoma Notes: strongly 2-lipped flower, long slender curved spur, blue with a white, 2-ridged almost closed palate, short pedicel, on raceme; stem leaves linear, alternate, sessile or nearly so; spring to summer (similar to Nuttallanthus canadensis) [V Max Brown, 2011]
Princess Tree [Foxglovetree] Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud. Charleston, West Virginia Notes: shrub to small tree; showy blue to purple flowers with yellow stripes in clusters; leaves large, opposite and cordate, short-pointed, hairy below; bark gray to brown, mostly smooth or some grooves; twigs stout; buds very hairy; fruit a woody capsule [V Max Brown, 2006]
Bracted Lousewort Pedicularis bracteosa Benth. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: 2-lipped tubular flower, mostly pale yellow, inflorescence spike with cobwebby hairs, large bracts; leaves alternate, pinnate, with double toothed segments, on long petioles; montane to alpine; summer (several varieties) [V Max Brown, 2012]
Wood Betony [Lousewort; Canadian Lousewort] Pedicularis canadensis L. ssp. canadensis Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 2-lipped tubular flower, Yellow to reddish-purple, upper lip with 2 teeth and arches out and over shorter lower lip, flowers in a crowded spike; leaves mostly basal, 1 or mostly 2 pinnate (fern-like), long petioles on lower leaves, stem leaves alternate; plant hairy; woods; spring to early summer [V Max Brown, 2006]
Elephanthead Lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica Retz. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: corolla pink-purple to red, the elephant ears are parts of lower lip, the galea (helment) makes up the head and trunk of the elephant; calyx short with 5 equal lobes and slightly hairy; leaves basal and cauline (alternate), pinnate with toothed segments; stems mostly glabrous, often turning reddish; montane to alpine environments; summer [V Max Brown, 2012]
Swamp Lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata Michx. Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 2-lipped tubular flower, white to cream to light to pale yellow, upper lip slightly notched or not, upper lip slightly longer or about the same length of lower lip, flowers mostly in a short spikes; leaves mostly opposite, pinnately lobed (somewhat fern-like), sessile or petioles short; stem glabrous to slightly hairy; wet areas, often in woods or meadows; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2008]
Sickletop [Parrot s Beak] Lousewort Pedicularis racemosa Douglas ex Benth. ssp. alba Pennell Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: 2-lipped, white to light cream colored (may be tinged with red), upper lip ending in a sharp beak, lower lip of three lobes, calyx green and lobed; leaves, alternate, lanceolate, short petiole, toothed, often with reddish tinge; stem mostly glabrous, somewhat grooved, often reddish; plant bunched from base; montane to subalpine; summer (flower not fully opened in photographs below) [V Max Brown, 2012]
Sudetic [Alpine] Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica Willd. ssp. scopulorum (A. Gray) Hultén Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: 2-lipped tubular flower, mostly pale pink to rose, inflorescence spike with dense cobwebby hairs, large bracts; leaves alternate, pinnate, with toothed segments, mostly basal; stem long hairy; subalpine to alpine; summer [V Max Brown, 2012]
Arkansas Beardtongue Penstemon arkansanus Pennell Greers Ferry Lake area, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: 2-lipped flower, white, 5 mostly equal lobes, throat open, with purple lines inside and stiff white hairs; leaves opposite and clasping, lanceolate to somewhat triangular, with or without small teeth; stems often with fine hairs and stem purplish toward base; spring [V Max Brown, 2011]
Cobaea Beardtongue Penstemon cobaea Nutt. Branson area, Taney County, Missouri Notes: 2-lipped flower, light blue to lilac to purple (only a little white), 5 mostly equal lobes, throat open, finely hairy; leaves opposite and clasping, lanceolate to somewhat triangular, with teeth; stem finely hairy; spring to early summer (some recognize varieties on color) [V Max Brown, 2010]
[White; Talus Slope] Foxglove Beard- Tongue Penstemon digitalis Nutt. ex Sims Pokagon State Park, Steuben County, Indiana Notes: 2-lipped flower, white (often tinged with blue), 5 mostly equal lobes, throat open, usually some purple lines inside, outer corolla and calyx with glandular hairs; leaves opposite, clasping, lanceolate to somewhat triangular, usually with small teeth, glabrous; stems mostly without hairs or finely hairy below inflorescence; late spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2006]
Sawsepal [Smooth] Penstemon Penstemon glaber Pursh Devils Tower National Monument, Crook County, Wyoming Notes: 2-lipped flower (to 4+ cm long), deep blue to purple, 5 mostly equal lobes, throat open, glabrous, sepals glabrous, sharp lobes; inflorescence a panicle; leaves opposite and clasping, mostly lanceolate, entire, glabrous ; stem glabrous; fruit a capsule; summer [V Max Brown, 2014]
Hairy Beard- Tongue Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd. Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 2-lipped flower, light blue to whitish, tubular, lower white lip raised and bearded, no deeper color lines inside, sepal lobes recurved; leaves mostly lanceolate, clasping at base; stem densely hairy; late spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2006]
Pale Beardtongue Penstemon pallidus Small State Hwy 19, 8 miles north of Winona, Shannon county, Missouri Notes: 2-lipped flower, white, throat open, usually some purple lines inside, lower lobe longer than upper; leaves opposite and clasping, lanceolate to somewhat triangular, densely hairy top and bottom; stems very hairy from top to bottom; dry uplands and woods; spring to early summer [V Max Brown, 2010]
Little Flower [Slender Blue] Penstemon Penstemon procerus Douglas ex Graham Near Fraser, Grand County, Colorado Notes: 2-lipped flower, blue to purplish, 1-1.5 cm, sepals green, inflorescence dense with flowers; leaves (cauline and basal) mostly lanceolate, cauline leaves sessile and clasping, basal with long tapering petioles; plant mostly glabrous; low elevations to subalpine environments; summer [V Max Brown, 2012]
White Wand Beardtongue Penstemon tubiflorus Nutt. Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Christian County, Missouri Notes: slightly 2-lipped flower, usually all white, 5 mostly equal lobes, throat open (with some gland-tipped hairs); leaves opposite and clasping, lanceolate to somewhat triangular, usually without teeth and glabous; stems mostly glabrous; late spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2010]
Whipple's Penstemon Penstemon whippleanus A. Gray Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: 2-lipped flower, whitish to red to reddish purple, often stripped with white, sepals linear, stem and sepals in inflorescence glandular hairy; leaves mostly lanceolate, sessile and clasping at base, long-pointed; plant glabrous below inflorescence; montane to alpine environments; summer [V Max Brown, 2012]
Late Figwort [Carpenter s Square] Scrophularia marilandica L. Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 2-lipped flower, upper lip wider than long, reddish-brown, staminode (sterile filament) purple to brown (lies nearly flat, structure under upper lip), inflorescence branched and pyramidal; leaves ovate, rounded to cordate at base, serrate with petioles; plant tall; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2004]
Moth Mullein Verbascum blattaria L. (Introduced) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 5-lobed flower, yellow or white, filament hairs purple, pedicel present (5mm+), crowded on upper stem; stem leaves sessile, mostly lanceolate, edges variable (entire, toothed or lobed), glabrous below, basal leaves in rosette, with petioles; late spring to fall [V Max Brown, 2005]
Common Mullein Verbascum thapsus L. (Introduced) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 5-lobed somewhat irregular flower, yellow, with densely crowded spike of flowers; leaves my be shallowly lobed or toothed, decurrent (winged on stem) down to next leaf, very densely wooly on both sides; common plant; stem densely hairy; common plant; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2004]
Culver s-root [-Physic] Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw. Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio USDA Notes: flower tubular and lobed, lower lobe a little smaller, white, very short pedicles, in crowded spikes, often with additional spikes from upper leaf axils; leaves lanceolate, toothed, whorled (4-6 or rarely other); stem hairy; summer [V Max Brown, 2005]
Water Speedwell Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. Alley Springs, Ozark National Riverways, Shannon County, Missouri Notes: 4-lobed flower, Lower lobe smaller, light blue with blue markings, pedicel long, bracts shorter to almost equal to petals, in axial racemes; leaves opposite, mostly elliptical to somewhat ovate, toothed or not, mostly sessile; stem mostly glabrous, hollow; prostrate to loosely erect; along streams and muddy borders; summer [V Max Brown, 2007]
Corn [Field] Speedwell Veronica arvensis L. (Introduced) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 4-lobed flower, Lower lobe smaller, light blue with blue markings, pedicel short, bracts smaller than upper leaves; leaves elliptical to ovate, veins palmate, toothed; stem and leaves with dense long hairs; prostrate to loosely erect; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2006]
Ivyleaf Speedwell Veronica hederifolia L. (Introduced) Wilson s Creek National Battlefield, Greene County, Missouri Notes: 4-lobed flower, light or pale blue with blue markings, sepals sharp pointed, very hairy, with pedicels up to ~ 1.5 cm; leaves wider than long (ivy-like), 3-(5) palmately lobed and veined, with very long hairs, lower leaves opposite and upper alternate; stem with dense long hairs; somewhat prostrate to loosely erect; spring to summer (Eurasian species) [V Max Brown, 2010]
Common Speedwell [Gypsyweed] Veronica officinalis L. (Introduced) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 4-lobed flower, Lower lobe smaller, white to light blue often with blue markings, flowers on mostly erect axillary racemes; leaves elliptical to ovate, distinctly toothed, petiole narrows to stem; stem and leaves hairy; plant creeping or prostrate; late spring to early fall [V Max Brown, 2006]
Purslane Speedwell [Neckweed] Veronica peregrina L. Pokagon State Park, Steuben County, Indiana Notes: 4-lobed flower, lower lobe smaller, white, pedicel short, sepal lobes about equal, solitary from leaf axil; leaves mostly linear to narrow-lanceolate, entire to sometimes slightly toothed, alternate above but opposite below; plant often prostrate to somewhat erect: spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2007]
Birdseye Speedwell Veronica persica Poir. (Introduced) University of Toledo Campus, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 4-lobbed flower, lower lobe smaller, blue (to white), pedicels from leaf axils long and ascending; leaves crenate-toothed, truncate to tapering base, more than one vein, usually slightly longer than wide; stems hairy, nearly prostrate to loosely erect; spring [V Max Brown, 2006]
Gray Field [Wayside] Speedwell Veronica polita Fr. (Introduced) Wilson s Creek National Battlefield, Greene County, Missouri Notes: 4-lobbed flower, lower lobe smaller, blue, pedicels from leaf axils 0.6-1.5 cm long; leaves crenate-toothed, truncate to tapering base, more than one vein, usually slightly longer than wide; stems hairy, nearly prostrate; spring to winter [V Max Brown, 2010]
Thyme-Leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia L. (Introduced) Pokagon State Park, Steuben County, Indiana Notes: 4-lobed flower, lower lobe smaller, white to light USDA blue with darker blue markings, pedicel 2-4 mm+, solitary from leaf axils; leaves elliptical, tip rounded to slightly pointed; stem finely hairy; plant often prostrate to somewhat erect: spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2007]
American Alpine Speedwell Veronica wormskjoldii Roem. & Schult. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: 4-lobed flower, dark blue with 2 anthers, sepals (4) with glandular hairs, flowers in crowded raceme; leaves elliptical to ovate, sessile; fruit a capsule; subalpine to alpine environments; stem and foliage dense long hairy: summer [V Max Brown, 2012]