Scrophulariaceae - Snapdragon family

Herbs, sometimes parasitic and lacking chlorophyll, shrubs or, rarely, trees (Freylinia and Halleria). Stipules 0. Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled, entire, toothed or variously lobed or dissected. Inflorescences various. Pedicels with 0 or 2 bracteoles. Flowers bisexual, usually zygomorphic. Calyx (3-)5-lobed, usually ± united. Corolla gamopetalous, sometimes produced into 1 or 2 spurs or sacs; limb usually 4- or 5-lobed, the lobes subequal or 2-lipped. Stamens 4, didynamous or equal, or 2 with occasionally 2 reduced to staminodes or 5 with the fifth ± rudimentary, rarely functional. Ovary superior, 2(-3)-locular. Fruit usually a capsule. Seeds small, numerous.

Plants resembling Scrophulariaceae include (e.g.) Primulaceae (Ardisiandra).

Worldwide: 268 genera and 5,100 species, cosmopolitan, but especially temperate areas and on tropical mountains.