Scrophularia umbrosa Dumort., Green Figwort
Account Summary
Introduction, neophyte, very rare, but possibly overlooked and under-recorded to some extent. Eurosiberian temperate, with a distinctly continental distribution in W Europe.
1939; Praeger, R.Ll.; Davy's Island (also called Inish More), at the E end of Lower Lough Erne.
Growth form, identification and preferred habitats
S. umbrosa is a stout, erect, perennial, 60-100 cm tall, with a simple, compact, fleshy rhizome that like other Scrophularia species tends to grow on fertile lowland soils at the sides of rivers and streams and in damp woodland, in both open and shaded situations (A. Horsfall, in: Preston et al. 2002).
The square stems of S. umbrosa are even more obviously 4-winged than those of S. auriculata and both have a distinct scarious margin to the sepals that is up to 1 mm wide. One of the alternative English common names draws attention to the winged stem, calling the plant 'Green-winged Figwort' (Butcher 1961) and the current author (RSF) recommends that this name be taken up generally. 'Green Figwort' does not convey anything useful. The two Figworts differ in that S. auriculata has leaves that are bluntly toothed and sometimes have small, leaf-like lobes at their base. Also the staminode (a sterile stamen situated under the upper lip of the corolla) in S. auriculata is rounded or kidney- shaped. The leaves of S. umbrosa, on the other hand, are lanceolate, bright green, sharply toothed and with no leaf basal lobes, and the staminode is distinctly two-lobed (Garrard & Streeter 1983; Parnell & Curtis 2012; Wilcox 2013, Fig 3).
Green-winged Figwort individuals tend to be scattered amongst other more common waterside plants such as Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold), Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Flag), Oenanthe crocata (Hemlock Water-dropwort), Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary-grass), Schoenoplectus lacustris (Common Club-rush) and Scirpus sylvaticus (Wood Club-rush), or else it may form small, pure stands.
There is some degree of negative association between S. umbrosa and S. auriculata which may replace it, at least in some more open situations in southern England where the latter is quite common (M.E. Braithwaite, in: Stewart et al. 1994; A. Horsfall, in: Preston et al. 2002).
S. umbrosa reproduces by seed which mainly germinates in the spring. Unlike S. nodosa and S. auriculata, it does not form a persistent soil seed bank
(M.E. Braithwaite, in: Stewart et al. 1994).
Fermanagh occurrence
There are just three records for S. umbrosa from two widely separated areas in Fermanagh, and R.H. Northridge and the current author (RSF) consider one of them very, or even extremely, doubtful. In any event, S. umbrosa is very rare and local on damp lakeshore woods and possibly also on wooded river banks in the Cladagh River Glen. The two Fermanagh records that are more acceptable are both Praeger's and date from 1939. The first Praeger site is the above one from Davy's Island, which lies off the Castle Archdale estate on the E shore of Lower Lough Erne. Here Praeger, who would have previously seen the plant on the River Liffey, described the S. umbrosa representation as, "very fine". The second Praeger discovery was on the closely adjacent larger White Island, where he recorded it on the eastern shore of the wooded island.
The solitary post-1975 record in the Fermanagh Flora Database was from the Marble Arch or Cladagh River Glen woods, and RHN & RSF would greatly prefer to have a voucher of it to confirm its correct identification. The record was made in February 1993 by a visiting English bryologist working on a survey commissioned by the EHS. RHN & RSF very much doubt that he could identify this rare and critical figwort in February, and without a voucher are loathe to accept his record.
Irish occurrence
Elsewhere in Ireland, S. umbrosa has been only very rarely recorded from just five widely spaced VCs (Irish Red Data Book). It is most abundant on the banks of the River Liffey in Co Dublin (H21), where its Irish discovery was made in 1895. The only other recent record is from north Co Londonderry (H40), on the River Bann just S of Coleraine (FNEI 3). S. umbrosa would appear to be declining, but it is quite probably under-recorded, being mistaken for or not distinguished from S. auriculata (Irish Red Data Book).
British occurrence and status
S. umbrosa is rare and very local, scattered throughout England, Wales (especially the Welsh borders) and Scotland as far N as the Moray Firth (New Atlas). The patchy pattern of occurrence in B & I and the late dates of its discovery around both islands make RHN and the current author certain that this species is a modern introduction: not native, but a neophyte (New Atlas; Sell & Murrell 2007).
In Britain, while it remains scarce, S. umbrosa has certainly increased quite markedly in abundance during the 20th century. Despite its similarity with S. auriculata, previous confusion between the two species does not appear to explain the perceived increase of S. umbrosa. It appears to be steadily becoming more frequent and is spreading beyond its previous main centres, perhaps being dispersed from them by wildfowl (M.E. Braithwaite, in: Stewart et al. 1994).
European and world occurrence
Belonging to the Eurosiberian temperate phytogeographical element, S. umbrosa has a chiefly C & E European distribution that stretches discontinuously northwards to Denmark, S Sweden and Latvia, and southwards to Corsica, Sardinia, Italy, Sicily and the Peloponnese. It appears to be absent or rare in most of W Europe. It also occurs in W & C Asia to Tibet and south to Palestine. In outlying areas beyond the stations mentioned, it is a casual species (Hultén & Fries 1986, Map 1632; Sell & Murrell 2007).
Names
The genus name 'Scrophularia' is from the Latin 'scrofule', translating as 'scrophula', the tubercular disease it was supposed to cure. The Latin specific epithet 'umbrosa' is from 'umbra' meaning shade and translates as 'growing in shady places' or 'shade-loving' (Gilbert-Carter 1964; Gledhill 1985). As mentioned above, in the opinion of the current author (RSF), the BSBI recommended English common name 'Green Figwort' (Dony et al. 1974) is not as meaningful or informative as 'Green-winged Figwort'.
Threats
None.