Scrophulariales

(botany) An order of flowering plants in the subclass Asteridae distinguished by a usually superior ovary and, generally, either by an irregular corolla or by fewer stamens than corolla lobes, or commonly both.

An order of flowering plants, division Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae), in the subclass Asteridae of the class Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons). The order consists of 12 families and more than 11,000 species. The largest families are the Scrophulariaceae (about 4000 species), Acanthaceae (about 2500 species), Gesneriaceae (about 2500 species), Bignoniaceae (about 800 species), and Oleaceae (about 600 species). The Scrophulariales are Asteridae, with a usually superior ovary and generally either with an irregular corolla or with fewer stamens than corolla lobes, or commonly both. They uniformly lack stipules.

The Scrophulariaceae are characterized by their usually herbaceous habit; irregular flowers with usually only two or four functional stamens; axile placentation; and dry, dehiscent fruits with more or less numerous seeds that have endosperm. The Acanthaceae are distinguished by their chiefly herbaceous habit, mostly simple and opposite leaves, lack of endosperm, and especially the enlarged and specialized funiculus, which is commonly developed into a jaculator that expels the seeds at maturity.

Some well-known members of the Scrophulariales are the African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha, in the Gesneriaceae), catalpa (Bignoniaceae), and lilac (Syringa vulgaris, in the Oleaceae). See also Asteridae; Flower; Magnoliophyta; Magnoliopsida; Olive; Plant kingdom.