340 
PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
Scorphulariacece or Figwort Family. — Herbs ( Linaria , Verbascum, 
Gerardia, Digitalis, etc.), shrubs (shrubby Veronicas, etc.), rarely 
trees ( Paulownia imperialis). Stem, branches and leaves usually 
green and independently vegetating, but in Pedicularis, Gerardia, 
Euphrasia, Buchner a, Rhinanthus, tic., the stem, leaves, and branches 
are condensed from the development of a parasitic root habit. Stems 
cylindrical to frequently quadrangular, especially when leaves are 
opposite. Leaves alternate to opposite and decussate, simple, 
exstipulate, often hairy but becoming by drought or parasiticism 
reduced to scales or almost absorbed. Inflorescence a raceme of 
cymes ( Paulownia ) or a simple raceme {Foxglove, Linaria, etc.) or 
spike {Verbascum Thapsus ) or, if leaves are opposite, often a whorl 
of axillary flowers or solitary axillary flowers. Flowers rarely regu- 
lar, mostly irregular; calyx of five sepals condensed in Veronica to 
four through absorption of one sepal by fusion of two sepals; corolla 
of five to four petals, deeply synpetalous varying from rotate {Ver- 
bascum Blattaria, etc.) to irregular tubular to elongate, irregular 
bilabiate to funnel-shaped. In color corolla varies from greenish 
to greenish-yellow or white ( Scrophularia ) to pure white or from red 
to purple to blue {Veronica) . Stamens five, fertile, equal in length 
in a few Verbascum species or unequal in other Verbascum species to 
stamens four with a long sterile staminode (. Pentstemon ) to four 
didynamous stamens with a short petaloid staminode {Scrophu- 
laria) to four didynamous stamens with a minute often nectariferous 
staminode {Linaria), to frequenty four didynamous stamens only, 
the two lateral or two anterior stamens stronger and longer {An- 
tirrhinum) to two perfect stamens and two minute staminodes {Cal- 
ceolaria) to two stamens alone developed {Veronica). Pistil 
bicarpellate; ovary two-celled with central placentation; style 
terminal with bilobed stigma; ovules numerous, small. Fruit a 
two-celled and usually many-seeded capsule. Seeds richly al- 
buminous, anatropous or amphitropous. 
Official drug 
Digitalis 
Leptandra N.F. 
Part used 
Leaves 
Rhizome and 
roots 
Botanical origin 
Digitalis purpurea 
Veronica virginica 
Habitat 
Europe 
United States and 
Canada 
