Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)

The Figwort family was until recently an eclectic mix of flowers, including figworts, toadflaxes, mulleins, foxgloves, speedwells, cow-wheats, louseworts and eyebrights. Following recent advances in genetics, several genera have been transferred to other families, notably the Plantain and Broomrape families.

The table below shows flowers in this website which still belong to the Figwort family.

Great Mullein Dark Mullein Moth Mullein Figwort Water Figwort
Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Dark Mullein
Verbascum nigrum
Moth Mullein
Verbascum blattaria
Figwort
Scrophularia nodosa
Water Figwort
Scrophularia auriculata


Speedwells (Veronica), Toadflaxes (Linaria), Foxgloves (Digitalis) and Fluellens (Kickxsia) have been transferred to the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae), including the following flowers:

Common Toadflax Ivy-leaved Toadflax Foxglove Brooklime Germander Speedwell Common Field Speedwell Slender Speedwell
Common Toadflax
Linaria vulgaris
Ivy-leaved Toadflax
Cymbalaria muralis
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Brooklime
Veronica beccabunga
Germander Speedwell
Veronica chamaedrys
Common Field Speedwell
Veronica persica
Slender Speedwell
Veronica filiformis


Ivy-leaved Speedwell Heath Speedwell Thyme-leaved Speedwell Wall Speedwell Wood Speedwell Blue Water-speedwell
Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Veronica hederifolia
Heath Speedwell
Veronica officinalis
Thyme-leaved Speedwell
Veronica serpyllifolia
Wall Speedwell
Veronica arvensis
Wood Speedwell
Veronica montana
Blue Water-speedwell
Veronica anagallis-aquatica


The semi-parasitic plants and flowers with irregular fused petals, such as Louseworts (Pedicularis), Eyebrights (Euphrasia), Yellow-rattles (Rhinanthus), Bartsias and Cow-wheats (Melampyrum) have been transferred to the Broomrape family (Orobanchaceae), including the following flowers:

Common Cow-wheat Red Bartsia Yellow Bartsia Marsh Lousewort Lousewort Eyebright Yellow Rattle
Common Cow-wheat
Melampyrum pratense
Red Bartsia
Odontites vernus
Yellow Bartsia
Parentucellia viscosa
Marsh Lousewort
Pedicularis palustris
Lousewort
Pedicularis sylvatica
Eyebright
Euphrasia nemorosa
Yellow Rattle
Rhinanthus minor


Finally the Monkey-flowers (Mimulus) have been transferred to the new Lopseed family (Phrymaceae), including the following flowers:

Monkey-flower Blood-drop-emlets
Monkey-flower
Mimulus guttatus
Blood-drop-emlets
Mimulus luteus




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