California Figwort (Bee Plant), Scrophularia californica

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Laguna Niguel, Orange County, CA. 4-18-09. © Joan Avise.	California Figwort (Bee Plant) Scrophularia californica A minutely woolly 2-4 ft. evergreen, erect, perennial herb with coarse squarish stems and 3 ft. spikes of reddish flowers; common in coastal sage scrub and chaparral, often at the base of, or in cracks of granite boulders or sandstone outcrops. On hillsides and open canyons at Chino Hills, Upper Newport Bay, San Joaquin Hills, mountain foothills and Santa Ana Mountains. It is most abundant following fire (Roberts), and it can form large colonies in moist areas. Flowering: Feb. - July. Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains Back to Scrophulariaceae of Orange County, California Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California Back to Natural History of Orange County, California
James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise.	James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise.
	Leaves up to 7 in., opposite, triangular-ovate, toothed, on a spindly square stem. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise.
The five calyx lobes are green, 1/8 in. long and triangular-ovate with an acute tip; The lower corolla lip is often lighter in color than the upper lip. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-11-09. © Joan Avise.	Red staminode, hairy on underside. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-11-09. © Joan Avise.
Four stamens, plus 1 staminode, fused to the roof of the corolla but free at the tip. Staminode dark red, hairy on the lower side. Anthers light yellow. Stigma head-like. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 6-13-09. © Joan Avise.	James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 6-13-09. © Joan Avise.
The red-brown to maroon 1/8 in. corolla is 2-lipped, with the 2-lobed upper lip protruding, the 3-lobed lower lip with middle lobe recurved; Nectary ringlike, encircling the base of the ovary; ovary superior, style appressed to the floor of the corolla but curved upward approaching tip. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise.	Seed capsules. The fruit is a dry capsule which splits in half, releasing many seeds. Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Laguna Niguel, Orange County, CA. 4-18-09. © Joan Avise.
Associations with Insects
Larval foodplant for the chalcedon checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas chalcedona). Iridoid glucosides from the plant make the larva poisonous and adults unpalatable (Las Pilitas nursery).	It is very prolific nectar producer attractive to small wasps, bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Variable Checkerspot, Euphydryas chalcedona