| Family: | Plantaginaceae ("Veronicaceae") |
|---|---|
| Common name: | snapdragon family [Zomlefer as "Scrophulariaceae", pp. 250-254] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 104 genera; 1,800 species U.S.: genera PNW (Oregon Flora Project): 18 genera |
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| Flower | |
|---|---|
| K(5) Co(5) S4, 2+2 P(2) | |
| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | zygomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | raceme or cyme |
| Calyx (sepals): | 5 (sometimes 4), united |
| Corolla (petals): | 5 (sometimes 4), fused into a long or short tube, sometimes two-lipped (=bilabiate), some with basal nectar spur |
| Androecium: | 4, didynamous (=in two, paired lengths), rarely 2; some with sterile fifth stamen (=staminode) |
| Gynoecium: | 2 united carpels, superior ovary (=hypogynous), single style, axile placentation, numerous ovules |
| Fruit: | capsule |
| Other features: | |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| round stems | |
| Leaves: | opposite, alternate, or (rarely) whorled simple, entire entire and often toothed, exstipulate |
| Life-history: | annual to perennial |
| Habit: | herbs, some shrubs |
| Distribution & Ecology: | cosmopolitan, diversity centered in the Mediterranean |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Collinsia, blue-eyed mary Digitalis, foxglove Linaria, butter and eggs Penstemon, beardtongue Synthris, kittentails Veronica, speedwell |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | medicinal plant Digitalis, foxglove |
| Ornamentals: | garden ornamentals Antirrhinum, snapdragon |
| Weedy and pest species: | |
| Examples | Plantaginaceae Collinsia |
|---|---|
| Plantaginaceae Linaria |
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| Plantaginaceae Penstemon |
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| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
Links to Other Web Sites
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