Scrophulariaceae

Scrophulariaceae, a large order or hypogynous Gamopetalae, inclucling about 180 genera and 1,8OO species. They are mostly herbs, the members of one sub-order, the Rhinantheae, being often partially parasitic on roots. Their leaves may be opposite or scattered, and are exstipulate and simple. The inflorescence is various, but generally racemose, and the flowers are generally monosymmetric. The lobes of calyx and corolla are four or five in number, and the latter may be personate, subcampanulate, subrotate, bi-labiate, or rotate. It is generally conspicuously coloured, pollination being effected by insects. The stamens may be two or five, but are generally didynamous; and the ovary is two-chambered and generally many-ovuled. the fruit is capsular, and the seeds are albuminous. The order is distinguishable with difficulty from the Solanaceae, Acanthaceae, and Bignoniaceae, and is subdivided mainly according to the variations in the imbricate aestivation of the corolla. It includes many favourite garden flowers, such as the snapdragons, foxgloves, Calceolaria, Mimulus, Pentstemon, and Veronica, the interesting British semi-parasitic cow-wheat, eye-bright and red and yellow rattles, etc., but few plants of economic value.