Water Figwort

Scrophularia auriculata

Neither common nor water figwort can be said to be pretty plants but there is something very striking and almost sinister about them both. The word fig is an old term for piles or haemorrhoids. Possibly the root protuberances or the flower buds resembled piles and on the philosophy of similars, an extract of figwort was a recommended treatment for this unfortunate condition.

I have twice been stung by wasps while taking photographs of figworts. For some reason, wasps are attracted to the flowers and they play a role in pollination. Those wasps seem to take exception to some idiot with a camera getting in the way. So, if if you decide to take a closer look - take care.

1. Panicle of water figwort flowers by the lake.

Taxonomy

Figwort belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. This family was formerly something of a 'ragbag' of different plants which in many cases did not seem to have a great deal in common. Sure enough, now that we have more genetic data, it is clear that the family is not monophyletic in that it does not have a single unique common ancestor. To put it another way, you could not make a single cut in the branching tree of life and isolate the Scrophulariaceae. It had all been a 'marriage of convenience' or a useful file drawer for herbarium specimens rather a grouping with a unique common evolutionary origin.
Some people are keen to stay with the old ordering and become quite angry about any changes. But if you think, as Charles Darwin did, that our taxonomy should reflect evolutionary relationships then changes have to be made from time to time as new information emerges. Now the Scrophularacea family has been split into four separate families but Figwort has kept its place in the original Scrophularaceae along with Verbascum or Mullein and it has been joined by Budleja formerly of the Budlejaceae.

Habit

Figworts can be tall reaching to 6ft or more. The stem is green with purplish streaks and square with small wings at the angle of the stem. This feature helps to distinguish Water Figwort from Common Figwort. Sometimes the wings are easier felt than seen. According to Richard Mabey in his book Flora Botanica children in the west country used to rub the stalks together so that the wings on the stalk would make a squeaky noise like a violin.

2. Square stem with wings.

Leaves

The leaves are arranged opposite along the stem with successive pairs being places at right angles to each other. Like common figwort  (Scrophularia nodosa) each leaf has a cordate or heart-shaped base. However, unlike common figwort, water figwort has little accessory leaves or auricles at the base of the leaf (hence the scientific name Scrophularia auriculata). Also, the leaves of water figwort are more blunt-tipped and the individual teeth are comparatively flat and less sharply toothed - see picture below.

3. Leaves showing auricles, cordate base and rounded tip.

Inflorescence and flowers

The arrangement of flowers is best described as a panicle. Which is really a much-branched inflorescence.

The flowers are modest in size in comparison with the rest of the plant which is why it is commonly overlooked. Despite an initially inconspicuous appearance the flowers repay further study. There is a five-lobed calyx sometimes with a pale rim. The five-lobed corolla is fused to form a tube. There are two prominent brownish red upper lobes and three smaller lower lobes.

The flower is protogynous which means that the female parts mature first when the style and stigma can be seen protruding from the corolla tube. Subsequently, the four stamens mature and four anthers are plainly visible in the mouth of the corolla tube. This risk of self-pollination is reduced because the stamens and stigma are not mature at the same time.

4. Female phase. The ovary is just visible at the base of the corolla tube and the sigma can be seen protruding from the corolla tube

5. Male phase. 4 Anthers visible below and above is the staminode which can be thought of as a rudimentary or abortive stamen that doesn't produce pollen. It can be of diagnostic importance in 'keying out' Figworts

In the photograph above the four mature anthers are clearly visible but above another structure called the staminode is visible. The staminode is a sterile or abortive stamen that doesn't bear pollen. Why this should be I don't know. However, the shape of the staminode is of some value in separating out different types of Figwort.

Where to find figwort in Leazes Park

The best place in Leazes Park is the marshy area to the north of the maze. You may have to push into the overgrown area but it is worth the effort. IT also crops up growing through the block paving at the edge of the lake but its position seems to vary from one year to the next.

6. Good places to find water figwort arrowed in yellow.