Scrophulariaceae
Figwort family
The figwort family (in the broad traditional sense), a large group of herbs and shrubs with typically 2-lipped (bilabiate) flowers. Includes snapdragons (Antirrhinum), foxglove (Digitalis), and many Indian medicinal herbs. Many members are hemiparasitic on grass roots.
Browse all 47 species ↓
Irregular, two-lipped tubular flowers (2 lobes up, 3 down) with 4-5 stamens, one often reduced to a stub.
Modern genetic classification has split this family heavily, so recognising the basic figwort-type flower is more useful day-to-day than the family name itself.
Which Scrophulariaceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Scrophulariaceae species.
How to recognise the Scrophulariaceae family
- 01
Usually 2-lipped tubular corolla
- 02
4 or 2 stamens, often didynamous
- 03
Capsule fruit with many seeds
To check whether a plant belongs to Scrophulariaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.
Learn the full family-identification methodTypical leaf characters
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryZygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- InflorescenceRaceme
- FruitCapsule
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
Families that can look similar
Acanthaceae
Compare against Acanthaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare AcanthaceaeBignoniaceae
Compare against Bignoniaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare BignoniaceaeLamiaceae
Compare against Lamiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare LamiaceaeVerbenaceae
Compare against Verbenaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare VerbenaceaeAll 47 species in SCROPHULARIACEAE
- Willowleaf AngelonAngelonia salicariifolia
- Memory Plant, Thyme-Leaved Grateola, BacopaBacopa monnieri
- Hairy BuchneraBuchnera hispida
- Gold PurseCalceolaria gracilis
- Indian Spur-Anther FlowerCentranthera indica
- Rushlike DopatriumDopatrium junceum
- MudmatGlossostigma diandrum
- CenizoLeucophyllum frutescens
- Diverse-Leaved MarshweedLimnophila heterophylla
- Indian MarshweedLimnophila indica
- Creeping MarshweedLimnophila repens
- Sparrow False PimpernelLindernia antipoda
- Brittle False PimpernelLindernia crustacea
- Hyssop LinderniaLindernia hyssopoides
- Small-Flower False PimpernelLindernia parviflora
- Roundleaf LinderniaLindernia rotundifolia
- Mexican ViperMaurandya barclaiana
- Asian MazusMazus pumilus
- Yellow-Flowered WaterhyssopMecardonia procumbens
- Common SopubiaParasopubia delphiniifolia
- Empress TreePaulownia tomentosa
- Ceylon LousewortPedicularis zeylanica
- Weeping Mary, Coral PlantRusselia equisetiformis
- Sweet Broom Wort, Sweet Broom Weed, Liquorice WeedScoparia dulcis
- Common SopubiaSopubia delphinifolia
- Split Leaf SopubiaSopubia trifida
- Sticky Blue RodStemodia viscosa
- Narrow-Leaved WitchweedStriga angustifolia
- WitchweedStriga asiatica
- Dense-Flower Witch-WeedStriga densiflora
- Cowpea WitchweedStriga gesnerioides
- Two-Color Wishbone FlowerTorenia bicolor
- Wishbone Flower, Ladys Slipper, Blue WingTorenia fournieri
- Indian Wishbone FlowerTorenia indica
- Lindernia Wishbone FlowerTorenia lindernioides
- Bird's-Eye SpeedwellVeronica persica
- Angelonia biflora
- Calceolaria mexicana
- Dopatrium lobelioides
- Kickxia incana
- Lindernia anagallis
- Lindernia ciliata
- Lindernia viscosa
- Rhamphicarpa longiflora
- Sopubia stricta
- Torenia cordata
- Verbascum chinense
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