Scrophulariaceae is a family of flowering plants. They also call it the Figwort family of plants. The plants in the Scrophulariaceae family are annuals, perennials, as well as shrubs. The flowers in this family have bilateral and sometimes radial symmetry. The Scrophulariaceae plants are usually found in temperate regions and tropical mountains. They named the family after the genus Scrophularia L.
This family includes 87 genera containing about 985 species. There are no crop plants of any importance in this family but it contains a few well-known ornamental garden species such as Butterfly Bush (Buddleja), Diascia, and Nemesia. Some species are consumed as culinary herbs and through traditional medicine. Some, such as the mullein also known as Verbascum (see below photo), are considered weeds. More prominently Scrophulariaceae is known for bisexual flowers with tubular corollas. The flowers are bilaterally symmetrical and usually have four stamens, two of them usually shorter than the other two. The pistil is superior and two-celled.
Few members of the Scrophulariaceae family have neuroprotective benefits and further scientific research is being conducted. Verbascum, Scrophularia, and Buddleja species seem to have the potential for preventing and curing neurodegenerative diseases in various experimental studies conducted by scientific researchers.
The Genera in the Scrophulariaceae family include:
Agathelpis
Alonsoa
Ameroglossum
Anamaria
Ancistrostylis
Androya
Antherothamnus
Anticharis
Aptosimum
Barthlottia
Boelckea
Bontia
Buddleja
Calamphoreus
Camptoloma
Capraria
Celsia
Chaenostoma
Cheilophyllum
Chenopodiopsis
Colpias
Conradia
Cromidon
Dermatobotrys
Diascia
Diclis
Diocirea
Dischisma
Dolichostemon
Emorya
Eremogeton
Eremophila
Fagelia
Fonkia
Freylinia
Galvesia
Glekia
Globulariopsis
Glumicalyx
Glycocystis
Gomphostigma
Gosela
Hebenstretia
Heliohebe
Hemimeris
Jamesbrittenia
Jamesbrittneia
Leucophyllum
Limosella
Lyperia
Maeviella
Magdalenaea
Manulea
Manuleopsis
Melanospermum
Microdon
Mimetanthe
Mimulicalyx
Monniera
Myoporum
Nathaliella
Nemesia
Nothobartsia
Oftia
Oreosolen
Parentucella
Pentstemonopsis
Philcoxia
Phyllopodium
Pocilla
Polycarena
Pseudoselago
Ranapalus
Ranopisoa
Reyemia
Rhabdotosperma
Scrophucephalus
Scrophularia
Selago
Sutera
Teedia
Tetraselago
Trieenea
Verbascum
Verena
Walafrida
Zaluzianskya
