Scrophulariaceae

Scrophulariaceae, commonly known as the figwort family, is a group of flowering plants in the order Lamiales. The family has historically included a wide range of herbaceous plants and a few shrubs, with diverse growth forms and habitats. Leaves are typically opposite or in whorls, and the flowers are often irregular (bilaterally symmetric) with tubular or two-lipped corollas. Fruits are usually dry capsules containing numerous small seeds.

Morphology in the family is variable, but many species share a preference for temperate regions and moist to well-drained soils. Flowers are frequently arranged in inflorescences such as spikes or racemes, and pollination is primarily by insects. The anatomy and floral structure reflect adaptations to a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

Taxonomy and systematics have undergone substantial changes with the advent of molecular phylogenetics. In older classifications, Scrophulariaceae was a large and heterogeneous family. Modern systems, particularly the APG classifications, have narrowed the circumscription of Scrophulariaceae, transferring many genera to Plantaginaceae, Orobanchaceae, and other related families. Today the family in its more restricted sense (Scrophulariaceae s.s.) includes a smaller set of genera, with Scrophularia (figworts) as a representative example. Genera historically associated with the family, such as Buddleja and Verbascum, have often been treated differently across taxonomic systems, illustrating the shifting boundaries of the group.

Ecology and uses: several species are cultivated as ornamentals, for example for their showy flowers, while others have a history of use in traditional medicine. Some members can be weedy or invasive outside their native ranges. Overall, Scrophulariaceae represents a temperate-flora lineage with diverse ecological roles and a taxonomic history shaped by molecular insights.