Scrophulariaceae . . . . . Figwort family

One of the families of the previous Scrophulariaceae: now separated into:
Scophulariaceae, Orobanchaceae, Veronicaceae and Phrymacaceae, etc.

Choose between:

Buddleja davidii

Buddleja globosa

Scrophularia

Verbascum

Butterfly bush

Orange-ball tree

Figworts

White mullein

Scrophularia

Verbascum

Limosella aquatica

Yellow Figwort

Mulleins

Purple mullein

Mudwort

Chaenostoma

Phygelius

Nemesia

Bacopa

Cape figwort

Scrophulariaceae . . . . . Figwort family

Buddleja . . . . . Buddleja

Scrophulariaceae/Buddleja davidii . . . . Butterfly bush

Widely found self-seeded on old walls and rooves

Scrophulariaceae/Buddleja globosa . . . . Orange ball tree

Uncommonly self-seeded

Chaenostoma (was Sutera). . . . . Bacopa

Scrophulariaceae/Chaenostoma cordatum . . . . Bacopa

Planted on hanging baskets and rarely escapes, esp. in S Br

Scrophulariaceae/Chaenostoma hispidum . . . . Bacopa

Less common than the above

Limosella . . . . . Mudworts

Scrophulariaceae/Limosella aquatica . . . . Mudwort

Very small plant scattered on wet mud at edge of ponds, often drying out in summer

Nemesia . . . . . Nemesia

Scrophulariaceae/Nemesia strumosaa . . . . Nemesia

A widely-grown ornamental annual that sometimes appears on tips or pavements

Phygelius . . . . . Cape Figwort

Scrophulariaceae/Phygelius capensis . . . . Cape Figwort

Widely planted and rarely naturalised, esp. as garden relic

Scrophulariaceae/Scrophularia . . . Figworts

Select from the following:

S.scorodonia

S. nodosa

S. auriculata

S. vernalis

S.umbrosa

Scrophularia auriculata . . . . . Water Figwort

Stem angles winged; Throughout En, Wa, Ire but rare in Sc (was S. aquatica)

Scrophularia nodosa . . . . Common Figwort

Damp places in Br and Ire but rare in CI

Scrophularia scorodonia . . . . Balm-leaved Figwort

Hairy; Locally frequent in CI and SW

Scrophularia umbrosa . . . . Green Figwort

Strongly winged stem; Locally scattered in shady places in Br & Ire

Scrophularia vernalis . . . . Yellow Figwort

Locally naturalised

Scrophulariaceae/Verbascum . . . . . Mulleins

Purple hairs on filaments

White/yellow hairs on filaments

White hairs on filaments

Note that various other spp. and hybrids can be found. Full identification requires info on hair type, anther and stigma shapes, etc.

At least some violet/purple hairs on filaments

V. nigrum

V. virgatum

V. blattaria

Other spp

V. pyramidatum, V. chaixii

Cordate basal lvs

Stalked glands throughout

Stalked glands at top

Variants of Great Mullein: hairs branched, note differences in anthers & stigmas: 1st 4 spp. have only 3 symmetrical anthers

Head-like stigma

Spoon-shaped stigma

Lvs hairless to mealy

All anthers kidney-shaped

V. speciosum

V. lychnitis

All anthers kidney-shaped

Lvs hairless to mealy

Verbscum blattaria . . . . Moth mullein

Scattered in C & S En; one flower on long pedicel per node; 3 upper anthers with violet/white hairs, 2 lower anthers with hairs only at base; the similar V. virgatum has stalked glands throughout and >1 fl per node at base

Verbscum bombyciferrum . . . . Broussa mullein

Introduced on waste ground in S half of Br - has spoon-shaped stigma, & 2 lower anthers with hairs only at base; stem ridged below lvs (distinguishing from V. phlomoides (Orange mullein))

Verbscum densiflorum . . . . Dense-flowered mullein

Introduced on waste ground in S half of Br - distinguished by spoon-shaped stigma (see lower in pic. 1)

Verbscum lychnitis . . . . White mullein

Local as native in S Br but occurs more widely as garden escape (sometimes yellow); note all anthers the same with white hairs; pedicels >6mm; mealy to hairless lvs

Verbscum nigrum . . . . Black mullein

Violet hairs on filaments; basal lvs cordate; locally common in CI, C & S Br

Other spp. with violet hairs on filaments include V. pyramidatum and V. chaixii

Verbascum phoeniceum . . . . Purple mullein

An unusual casual on waste ground

Verbascum speciosum . . . . Hungarian mullein

The most showy sp.; anthers all kidney-shaped on hairy stamens; naturalised in C & S Br on waste and rough ground

Similar is Hoary mullein (V. pulverentum) with hairs wearing off - rare in E. Anglia

Verbscum thapsus . . . . Great mullein

2 anthers without hairs, head-shaped stigma; common on waste and rough ground, especially on chalk and in C & S Br

Verbscum virgatum . . . . Twiggy mullein

Locally frequent in SW En; violet hairs on filaments, stalked glands over most of plant (the similar V. blattaria (Moth mullein) has glands only at top and single long-stalked fls)

There are a number of other Verbascum spp. and hybrids