Family |
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophularia rubricaulis
Boiss.
Leb. Syr. Pal. Jor.
Scrophularia rubricaulis Boiss.
First published in Diagn. Pl. Orient. 12: 34 (1853).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, p. 238, Pl. CXXVI, 3; 1983)
Description
Synonym: Scrophularia michoniana Coss. & Kralik.
Life-form & habit: Robust biennial reaching 1 m or more, with a strong, reddish, four-angled stem, hairless except in the inflorescence.
Leaves: Deeply pinnately divided into large oval-oblong segments, variably toothed or lyre-shaped. Lowermost leaves often bear a pair of small leaflets at the base of the stalk; upper leaves run down the stem.
Inflorescence & flowers: Loose, branched inflorescence 50–60 cm long, with shortly stalked clusters of two to seven flowers. Bracts and bracteoles bristle-like, without papery margins. Calyx lobes oval, with crinkled white margins washed pale red, about as broad as the green portion. Corolla brownish-green, 8–17 mm long; sterile stamen rounded.
Fruit: Capsule more than 5 mm across, ending in a prominent point.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: April–August.
Habitat & elevation: Roadsides and cultivated ground.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Saida, Aley, Ghazir, Abey, Rayfoun, Achqout, Amyoun, Bikfaya, Bhamdoun, Hadeth, Ain Zehalta, Wadi Hammana, Sofar, Ban, Qannoubine, Chtaura, Taanail, Zahle, Hasbaya–Rachaya, Yate below Qamouaa and Menges.
Syrian distribution: Between Banias and Tiberias, Slenfe, Sejen, Mourdouk and Ezraa.
Recorded locations: Kornet Chehwan.
Native range: Lebanon-Syria and Palestine.