The scrophulariaceae, or figwort family is much reduced in size following the transfer of many species to the plantaginaceae and orobanchaceae families. There are now just 11 UK species, in the scrophularia and verbascum genera (figworts and mulleins). Leaves are generally opposite, sometimes alternate towards the base of the stem, and they lack stipules, while flowers have a four- or five-lobed calyx, and corollas either tubular, with two divided lips, or spreading, with four or five lobes.
