About Scrophularia lanceolata Pursh
Scrophularia lanceolata Pursh is a perennial herb that grows in clusters of erect or spreading stems reaching up to 1.5 meters in length. Its leaves are arranged oppositely, with toothed blades that are either triangular or lance-shaped, growing up to 14 centimetres (5.5 in) long and attached to the stem by short petioles. The inflorescence is a wide-open panicle, with several hairy, glandular branches that hold the plant's flowers. Each flower has a spherical or urn-shaped corolla that opens at the top into a narrow mouth edged with hood-like lobes. The corolla is roughly 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long, and is greenish, tinged with brown or dull pink. A wide staminode is generally visible in the corolla's mouth. When ripe, the fruit is a brown, teardrop-shaped capsule just under a centimeter long. This capsule holds many very small black seeds, which are released when the capsule splits in half. Scrophularia lanceolata grows in conditions ranging from partial shade to full sun. It can be found in open woods, thickets, along roadsides, along railroad right-of-ways, and in open fields. This plant has been used medicinally to treat swollen glands.
