Scrophulariaceae - Snapdragon family

Annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or, rarely, trees. Stipules mostly 0. Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled, entire, toothed or variously lobed or dissected. Inflorescences various. Pedicels with 0 or 2 bracteoles. Flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual, 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 sometimes equal, rarely 5. Ovary superior, 2(-4)-locular; ovules 1-many per loculus Fruit usually a capsule, sometimes a schizocarp, rarely a berry or drupe. Seeds small, numerous.

Worldwide: 62 genera and c. 1,700 species, cosmopolitan, but especially temperate areas and on tropical mountains.

Malawi: 6 genera and 17 taxa.