SCROPHULARIA HETEROPHYLLA

Family and Genus:- See- SCROPHULARIACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Scrophularia (L) Scrophula, a glandular disease to which breeding

sows were said to be prone, many plants were used to treat this disease.

Heterophylla (Gr) Diversely-leaved.

General description:- Perennial, usually strongly woody and gnarled at the base.

Stems:-

1) Several, ascending, 10-25 cm long, simple or sparingly branched, brittle.

Leaves:-

1) Up to 5 x 3 cm, ± pinnatisect with large a terminal segment and subobtuse

teeth, of rather thick texture, dark green or somewhat glaucous.

Flowers:-

1) Bracts, not leaf-like.

2) Pedicels, up to 1(-3) times as long as the calyx, glandular.

3) Calyx-lobes, ovate to orbicular, margins entire or serrate, scarious.

4) Corolla, (4-)6-9 mm, reddish-purple to greenish.

5) Staminode, reniform to orbicular.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, broadly ovoid, up to 2.5 times as long as the calyx.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 4-9 mm.

2) Stems, not or scarcely winged.

3) Leaves minutely glandular-puberulent, often glaucous, usually with more than

one pair of basal lobes.

4) Capsule, 3-6 mm.

5) Most of the pedicels, up to 1(-3) times as long as calyx.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Crevices and ledges of limestone cliffs. 0-900 m.

Distribution:- Most of Greece except the interior north. Widespread and fairly

common throughout the Mediterranean. On Crete grows in the lowlands of the

north-west and a few other scattered, coastal locations.

Flowering time:- Mid-Mar to early July.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis