THE FIGWORT FAMILY 
[ORDER LV. SCROPHULARIACEiE] 
CALYX of usually 5 SEPALS, sometimes 
4, united at the base, remaining with the 
fruit (persistent), free from and inserted 
below the seedcase (inferior). 
COROLLA of 5 PETALS, sometimes 4, 
united into a tube, and dividing into the 
same number of unequal lobes which are 
usually 2-lipped (bilabiate), rarely bell- 
shaped, or tubular, or flat and spreading 
(rotate), inserted below the seedcase (hypo- 
gynous). 
STAMENS usually 4, when they are in un- 
equal pairs (didynamous), or 2, or 5 when 
the 2 outer ones are longer than the other 3, 
inserted in the corolla-tube (epi-petalous). 
PISTIL of 2 CARPELS united into a seed- 
case, I style, and a stigma which is usually 
2-lobed. 
FRUIT a capsule, 2-celled, usually many- 
seeded, the seeds attached to a central 
column (placenta), opening to free the seeds 
by 2, 3, or 4 valves, or by pores. 
FLOWERS usually in long clusters (racemes), 
sometimes solitary. 
LEAVES alternate, opposite, or in circles 
(whorls), without stipules. 
DISTINGUISHED by the 2-lipped corolla, 
4 stamens in unequal pairs, and the 2-celled 
capsule, in the British species, with the 
exception of the Mullein (Verbascum) when 
there are 5 stamens, the Speedwell 
(Veronica) when the corolla is star-like 
with 4 lobes and there are only 2 stamens, 
and the rare Mudwort and Comish Money- 
wort. 
T HIS family is characterised by the usually 2-lipped corolla and the 4 stamens in unequal 
pairs, combined with the 2-celled many-seeded capsule. The Dead-Nettle Family has the 
first two named peculiarities, but it has a fruit of 4 little nuts (cocca), and so is distinguished from 
the Figwort Family. The order is a large one and is spread all over the globe in arctic as 
well as tropical regions, though it is best represented in temperate countries. 
Many beautiful foreign species are cultivated in greenhouses and gardens, such as the 
Calceolaria, Angelonia, Alonsoa, Maurandia, Lophospermum, Collinsia, Paulownia, Torenia, 
Pentstemon, Salpiglossis, Schizanthus, Browallia, and Brunsfelsia ; also various Snapdragons 
(Antirrhinums), Speedwells (Veronicas), Toad-flax (Linarias), and Mulleins (Verbascums). Some 
species have strong medicinal properties. Extracts from the Foxglove (Digitalis) and from certain 
species of Mullein (Verbascum thapsiforme and Verbascum phlomoides) are included in the 
pharmacopoeia. 
Two large orders found only in warmer and tropical regions and very nearly allied to the 
Figwort Family are the Bignoniaceae and Acanthaceae. The former are in most instances 
twining plants with very beautiful flowers, and provide our greenhouses and gardens 
with Tecomas, Gesneras, Gloxinias, the Trumpet Flowers (Bignonias), and the Catalpa-tree. 
The genus Acanthus, belonging to the Acanthaceae, inhabits the region of the Mediterranean, 
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