Species name :

Scrophularia auriculataL.
Published in Sp. Pl. : 620 (1753)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Scrophularia aquatica L.

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [PlantList] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Scrophulariaceae Juss. (The Figwort Family)
9 species from the Scrophulariaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Water Figwort, Water Betony, Bishop's Leaves

Maltese name(s) :

Fiswet il-kelb tal-ilma, Werqet il-Madonna

Status for Malta :

Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare     Extinct

Growth form :

Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: HEMICRYPTOPHYTE ( prostate plants with flowers close to the ground )
Germination [info]: Dicotyledon

Legal Protection :

Protected by law: Schedule III of [S.L. 549.44] (Conservation requires the designation of SAC)

Red List (1989) :

Threatened status for the Maltese Islands and has been listed in the Red Data Book (1st ed.)

Flowering Time :

February – May

Colour of Flowers:

Red or Dark

Toxicity:

Not particularly toxic

Name Derivation :

Scrophularia: Named in 1474 by an Italian physician who noticed the resemblance between the rhizomal knobs of some species and the tubercular condition of human lymph nodes called scrophula. Scrofula is a form of tuberculosis affecting the lymph nodes, especially of the neck, that is most common in children and is usually spread by unpasteurized milk from infected cows. (Latin origin )

auriculata:

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines