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Figwort/Snapdragon Family
(traditional circumscription)
The Scrophulariaceae is a traditional family that has been radically altered by molecular systematic data. Much of the traditional Scrophulariaceae has been moved into the Plantaginaceae or into the Orobanchaceae. Although this rearrangement is well-supported systematically and ecologically, tradition is strong and for a while to come, most people will look for these genera within the Scrophulariaceae. Traditionally, the Scrophulariaceae has been a large family with some members fully autotrophic and others fully or hemi-parasitic. In contrast, the Plantaginaceae and Orobanchaceae were quite small. Most of the genera that made up the former Scrophulariaceae have been transferred to the Plantaginaceae, making that now the large family and leaving only a few genera in the Scrophulariaceae. The genera with parasitic tendencies were transferred to the Orobanchaceae. Even the common name of the family has been involved with this systematic shake-up; "figwort" is the common name for Scrophularia and stays with the now smaller family. The former "plantain" family hardly describes the new diversity encompassed and "snapdragon" family has been proposed for the new Plantaginaceae. The Orobanchaceae has retained its common name of the "broomrape" family, the common name for Orobanche itself.
The traditional Scrophulariaceae is almost cosmopolitan with its biggest diversity in the temperate zone. Several genera [e.g., Castilleja (paintbrush), Pedicularis (lousewort), Penstemon (beardtongue)] have their centers of diversity in western North America. There are many high-profile ornamental genera within the family: Antirrhinum (snapdragon), Calceolaria (slipper flower), Penstemon, Digitalis (foxglove), Mimulus (monkey flower), and Veronica (speedwell). Digitalis is also used medicinally.
The flowers of the traditional Scrophulariaceae are typically strongly bilaterally symmetric, with a tube of fused petals, conspicuously two-lipped, with 4-5 lobes. Two genera (Verbascum and Veronica) are only weakly bilateral and have a very short tube. In Castilleja and Orthocarpus, it is bracts rather than petals that are brightly colored. There are usually 4 stamens, but Veronica has only two and Verbascum has five. Penstemon has a sterile staminode in addition to its four fertile stamens.