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 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
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 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
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 Mimulus guttatus		Blood-drop-emlets Mimulus luteus

Hairy Calyx home | Family list (text) | Family list (thumbnails) | Full plant list (text) | Full plant list (thumbnails)