Scrophularia californica

Scrophularia californica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Scrophulariaceae
Genus:	Scrophularia
Species:	S. californica
Binomial name
	Scrophularia californica; Cham. & Schldl.

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

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.

This species is a strong bee attractant and also serves as a host plant for variable checkerspot larvae.^[1]

References

^ 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.

External links

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[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.

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