common figwort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• knotty figwort
• woodland figwort
• Common Figwort
• figwort
• Knotted Figwort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Scrophularia nodosa var. nitida
• Scrophularia nodosa var. viridiflora
• Scrophularia nodosa variegata
• Scrophularia foetida
• Scrophularia cechica
• Scrophularia wirtgenii
• Scrophularia nodosa subsp. chamaeneriifolia
• Scrophularia capitata
• Scrophularia hemschinica
• Scrophularia italica
• Scrophularia sckellii
• Scrophularia major
• Scrophularia ternata
• Scrophularia nodosa var. montana
• Scrophularia nodosa var. serrulata
• Scrophularia nodosa subsp. foliosa
• Scrophularia nodosa var. purpurascens
• Scrophularia nodosa var. bobartii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls into the order Lamiales and the family Scrophulariaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Scrophularia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Scrophularia nodosa, exhibits a specific presence across several regions of Northern Europe. Its distribution includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It can also be found growing within the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is documented throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends into the northern territories of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

Scrophularia nodosa thrives in a diverse array of environments, demonstrating significant ecological plasticity by colonizing various landscapes such as crop fields, forests, meadows, old fields, and shrubberies. It is well-adapted to both disturbed and semi-natural habitats, often finding niche stability in the transitional zones of woodland edges and open grassy areas. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution across different terrains, occupying an elevational range that extends up to a maximum of 2200 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal capacity allows it to persist in a variety of climatic conditions, from lowland agricultural settings to higher-altitude montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, forest, meadows, old fields, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Scrophularia nodosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate during unfavorable periods. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Scrophularia nodosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence. This terrestrial species typically grows in a non-epiphytic manner. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a variable height, with a minimum recorded height of 0.3 m, a mean height of 0.583 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 1.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.25 m

Plant height mean:

0.583 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Scrophularia nodosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process typical of plants in temperate environments that fix carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Its leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 14 cm. The leaf width also shows a broad spectrum, spanning from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 6 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of 81.66 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 260 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its strategy for optimizing light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

81.66 cm²

Leaf width mean:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

260 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Scrophularia nodosa is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and continues through September. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects, with bees identified as a key pollinator. While self-fertilization is present, ensuring reproductive success, the plant's lifecycle culminates in the production of dry, dehiscent fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules have an average fruit length of 0.6 cm. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean seed mass of 9.9e-05 g and a consistent seed volume of 0.091 mm³. For the spread of the next generation, the plant employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing the wind to distribute its seeds.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass mean:

9.9e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.091 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Scrophularia nodosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Chemicals

Scrophularia nodosa has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5-Hydroxy-3,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone, Centaurein, Flavonoids, Saponins, Spinoside.

5-Hydroxy-3,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Centaurein

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Flavonoids

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Saponins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Spinoside

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

resin

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

sugar

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Scrophularia nodosa has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytoprotective, Diuretic, Spasmolytic.

Cytoprotective

1. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition

Diuretic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Spasmolytic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Medicinal Uses

Scrophularia nodosa has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, denture stomatitis, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations