Scrophularia californica

Scrophularia californica is a flowering plant in the figwort family which is known by the common names California figwort and California bee plant.

Scrophularia californica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Scrophularia
Species:
S. californica
Binomial name
Scrophularia californica

It is native to the western United States, including many habitats in California, and in British Columbia.

Description

Scrophularia californica is an unassuming plant with triangular, toothed, blue-green leaves in pairs opposite each other on a spindly, squared stem.

The brownish-magenta flowers are rounded, hollow buds about a centimeter long with two long upper lobes.

Relationships with animals

This species is a strong bee attractant and also serves as a host plant for variable checkerspot larvae.[1] While bees cannot see the color red, they are nevertheless able to see the flower, likely due to their ability to sense the UV light emitted by the flowers.[2] The checkerspot is able to utilize iridoid glycosides in the sap to make its larva poisonous and adults unpalatable to predators.[3]

Human uses

Native American groups in northern Baja California have used the root of the plant to make a medicinal tea. The Pomo of northwestern California and the Ohlone of the San Francisco Bay Area used it as a poultice for infections and boils.[4]

References
  1. Williams, K. S., D. E. Lincoln, and P. R. Ehrlich. "The Coevolution of Euphydryas Chalcedona Butterflies and Their Larval Host Plants II. Maternal and Host Plant Effects on Larval Growth, Development, and Food-Use Efficiency." Oecologia 56.2-3 (1983): 330-35.
  2. "California Bee Plant".
  3. "Plant of the Month Page".
  4. "California Bee Plant".
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