Flora of Ecuador, Volume 21, Part 177: Scrophulariaceae

Language: English

This volume deals with the family Scrophulariaceae, a family of some 200 genera and approximately 3000 species, distributed nearly throughout the world, especially in temperate and subtropical areas and tropical mountains, less frequent in lowland tropical regions. At middle and high elevations in the Andes of Ecuador, species of Calceolaria, Bartsia, Castilleja, Alonsoa, and Lamourouxia are common components of the vegetation. A few species have been planted in flower gardens as ornamentals. The following three have not been observed outside of cultivation and are only distinguished in the key to genera: Russelia equisetiformis Schlecht. & Cham. (Zaruma, El Oro, Espinosa 1830, PH); Angelonia angustifolia Benth. (Guayaquil, Guayas, Valverde 295, US); and Hebe elliptica (G. Forster) Pennell (Quito, Pichincha Jameson s.n., BM). The remaining introductions are treated as naturalised species. although some may not have persisted.