Scrophulariaceae Juss.

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

The Scrophulariaceae are a worldwide family with 306 genera and c. 5850 species. The majority of the genera are herbs or small shrubs from the temperate regions and tropical mountains.

Recognition

Whilst quite diverse morphologically, members of the family can be recognised by the simple leaves, usually opposite or whorled, the sympetalous corolla with didynamous (2 pairs of unequal length) and epipetalous stamens, and the superior ovary.

Morphology General Habit

Herbs or small shrubs, rarely small trees or lianas, often hemiparasitic. Leaves simple, opposite or alternate, sometimes in whorls, margin entire to serrate, rarely pinnate, usually without stipules, sap absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal or axillary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually bisexual, subactinomorphic to zygomorphic (often bilabiate); calyx 4 or 5-lobed, actinomorphic, campanulate; corolla sympetalous, limb 4 or 5-lobed, imbricate; stamens (2–)4(–5), didynamous, epipetalous, alternate with the lobes, 5th stamen sometimes present as staminode, anther (1–)2 thecae; ovary superior,(1–)2–4-locular, ovules 3 to numerous, disk present; style 1, terminal, stigma bi-lobed or capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a capsule or rarely a berry or drupe, usually septicidal and/or loculicidal, sometimes poricidal or operculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3 to numerous, usually small, usually with reticulate, rarely winged testa.

Scrophulariaceae, D. Philcox. Flora Zambesiaca 8:2. 1990

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial, terrestrial, amphibious or aquatic herbs, or leafless parasitic herbs lacking chlorophyll, shrubs or undershrubs, rarely trees, glabrous, variously pubescent or glandular-viscid

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, alternate orverticillate, entire, toothed or variously lobed or dissected, or reduced to scales, estipulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Pedicels ebracteolate or bibracteolate Flowers solitary axillary or in terminal spikes, racemes, heads or panicles, arranged in racemes or cymes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, usually irregular, at times subregular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx inferior, persistent, usually 5-lobed, occasionally 4-, or rarely 3-lobed, usually more or less united, campanulate, tubular, or shortly so almost lacking distinct tube, equal, unequal, valvate, variously overlapping or open in bud

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tubular, campanulate, cylindric or ventricose or enlarged above; tube straight or variously curved to geniculate, at times basally produced into 1 or 2 spurs or sacs; limb usually 5- or 4-lobed, rarely 3–8-lobed, lobes subequal, more or less spreading, or clearly bilabiate with upper lip entire, emarginate or bilobed, erect, concave or galeate or at times flat or spreading, lower lip 3- (rarely 4-) lobed, spreading

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens 4, didynamous or equal, or 2 with occasionally 2 reduced to staminodes, or 5 with fifth subrudimentary, rarely perfect Filaments inserted in corolla tube or at throat, filiform or dilated, occasionally with lower variously appendaged at base Anthers 1- orbilocular, free or frequently coherent, cells similar or with one smaller and sterile, connective often produced into 2 branches, each bearing cell

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovules many to numerous in each cell Ovary superior, sessile, entire, 2-, or rarely 3-celled, placentation central; style simple, entire or shortly cleft at apex; stigma small, capitate or clavate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit usually capsular, septicidal or loculicidal, sometimes both, occasionally dehiscing by pores, rarely indehiscent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds small, numerous, variously shaped, pitted, ridged or ribbed, rarely smooth

Scrophulariaceae, S.A. Ghazanfar, F.N. Hepper & D. Philcox. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2008

Morphology General Habit

Herbs, undershrubs, sometimes climbers or shrubs, rarely trees; many partial root parasites, a few wholly parasitic

Morphology Leaves

Leaves exstipulate, simple, alternate or opposite (especially lower ones), rarely all basal or the upper-most whorled, often variously lobed or dissected, toothed or entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, zygomorphic (sometimes very slightly) usually in bracteate spikes or racemes, less often solitary in leaf-axils, or in cymes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx persistent; calyx-tube campanulate, tubular or almost none; calyx-teeth usually 4 or 5, rarely 3, sometimes calyx 2-lipped, valvate, imbricate or open in bud

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla united; tube campanulate, cylindric or ventricose or enlarged above, straight or curved or bent, sometimes very short, sometimes with 1 or 2 spurs or sacs at the base, usually 4- or 5-lobed with the lobes more or less equal and all spreading, or distinctly 2-lipped, with the upper lip entire or 2-lobed, lower lip usually 3-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, didynamous or 2, rarely 3, 5 or 6–8; staminodes sometimes present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary superior, 2-locular, ovules numerous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit usually capsular, septicidal or loculicidal, rarely a berry and indehiscent, or fruit separating into 2 cocci.