Manual of the New Zealand Flora.
[Introduction to Order LIV. Scrophularineæ.]
Herbs or shrubs, rarely small trees. Lower leaves usually opposite, upper alternate, or all opposite or all alternate; stipules wanting. Flowers generally irregular, hermaphrodite. Calyx inferior, persistent, 4–5-toothed or -lobed, sometimes of 5 free sepals. Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous, commonly 2-lipped but sometimes almost regular, 4–5-lobed; lobes imbricate in bud. Stamens inserted on the tube of the corolla, either 2, or 4 in 2 pairs, 2 long and 2 short (didynamous), sometimes the rudiment of a fifth stamen is present or rarely all five are present and perfect; anthers 1–2-celled, cells distinct or confluent. Ovary superior, 2-celled; style simple; stigma entire, 2-lobed or 2-lamellate; ovules usually numerous in each cell, anatropous or amphitropous, placentas affixed to the septum. Fruit a 2-celled many-seeded capsule, rarely an in-dehiscent berry. Seeds small, generally numerous, various in form; albumen fleshy, seldom wanting; embryo straight or rarely curved.
A large order, scattered over the whole world, but far better represented in temperate regions or in mountainous districts than in very warm climates. Genera about 160; species estimated at 2000. The medicinal properties of the order are very various. A few species are purgative, others are astringent or tonic, a far greater number are acrid and bitter or even poisonous. The foxglove ( Digitalis) is the only one largely used medicinally, although many others are occasionally employed. The family contains many handsome garden-plants, especially of the genera Calceolaria, Antirrhinum, Pentstemon, Mimulus, Digitalis, and Veronica. Of the 11 genera found in New Zealand, 2, Anagosperma and Siphonidium, are endemic; Calceolaria occurs elsewhere only in South America; Ourisia is also mainly South American, but extends to Tasmania as well; Glossostigma is confined to Australia and New Zealand. The remaining 6 have a wide distribution in both temperate and tropical regions.
A. Antirrhinidæ. Upper lip (or two upper lobes) of the corolla always outside the others in bud.
* Stamens 2.
Calyx 4-partite. Corolla 2-lipped, lips inflated 1. Calceolaria. Calyx 5-partite. Corolla 2-lipped, lips not inflated 4. Gratiola. ** Stamens 4.
Flowers axillary in the New Zealand species. Calyx 5-angled and -toothed. Corolla 2-lipped. Stigma 2 lamellate 2. Mimulus. Flowers in terminal racemes. Calyx 5-partite, not angled. Corolla 2-lipped. Stigma 2-lamellate 3. Mazus. Flowers axillary, solitary. Calyx 3–4-lobed. Corolla nearly regular. Stigma spathulate 5. Glossostigma. Flowers axillary. Calyx 5 - toothed. Corolla rotate. Stigma clavate 6. Limosella. B. Rhinanthideæ. Under-lip or lateral lobes of the corolla covering the upper in bud.
* Stamens 2.
Shrubs or herbs. Leaves opposite, often imbricate and quadrifarious in the New Zealand species. Corolla rotate or tube short; limb 4-lobed or rarely 5-lobed 7. Veronica. ** Stamens 4.
Corolla 5-lobed, campanulate or nearly so, tube short. Stigma capitate 8. Ourisia. Corolla 2-lipped, tube short. Ovary usually with several ovules in each cell, rarely reduced to two 9. Euphrasia. Corolla 2-lipped, tube long. Ovary with one ovule in each cell 10. Anagosperma. Corolla 2-lipped, tube exceedingly long, gibbous, upper lip entire. Stigma 2-lobed 11. Siphonidium.