Family: Scrophulariaceae – Figwort Family Annual herbs; 6” to 4' (15 to 120 cm) tall Leaves: alternate; simple; leaves deeply divided into narrow segments; 0.4” to 1.4” (1 to 3.5 cm) long Flowers: 4 or 5 pink or purple united tubular petals; 4 or 5 at least partially united tubular sepals, rarely 2 sepals ; bilaterally symmetrical; usually bisexual; 4 stamens; irregular tubular flowers with 2 lipped corollas (3 lobes down and 2 lobes up); 0.6” to 1.08” (15 to 27 mm) long Pollinators: other genera in this family are pollinated by insects (specifically bees, flies, moths and butterflies) Fruits: 2 chambered capsule (dry fruit) Blooms in Arches National Park: August, September, October Habitat in Arches National Park: often in sand in desert shrub, grassland, and pinyon-pine communities Location seen: Bloody Mary wash near visitor center, Park Avenue trail, Delicate Arch road Other: The genus name, “Cordylanthus”, is from the Greek “kordyle” which means “club” and “anthos” which means “flower” referring to the shape of the flower. The species name, “wrightii”, honors American botanical collector, Charles Wright (1811-1885). The family is important because of many ornamentals and cardiac glycosides that can be derived from foxglove. |
Last updated: January 28, 2022