Water Figwort - Scrophularia auriculata

Fairly tall plant (to 1 metre) the stems narrowly winged on the angles. One characteristic for identification of this species is a pair of leaflets on the petiole of the leaf - however these are not always well developed and may be absent. Calyx lobes with pale, broad membranous margins. The staminode is diagnostic and is more or less orbicular and entire.

Common Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa) and Green Figwort (S umbrosa)

Square, winged stems; leaves blunt and with rounded rather than sharp teeth (crenate); calyx-lobes with a wide scarious border (i.e. a broad thin papery edge). 

Green Figwort is similar, but with pointed leaves and a bifid staminode with two divergent lobes; it is scarce in VC55 

A photo of whole plant, including leaves as well as flowers.

Wet habitats, water margins, ditches, dykes and marshes.

June to September.

Perennial.

Very common in much of England and Wales but not in Scotland.

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 476 of the 617 tetrads.