Lance-leaf Figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata): other Minnesota wildflowers

Lance-leaf Figwort

Plant Info
Also known as:	Early Figwort, Hare Figwort
Scientific name:	Scrophularia lanceolata
Family:	Figwort (Scrophulariaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	part sun; open woods, thickets
Bloom season:	spring to early summer
Plant height:	2 to 6 feet
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Flower:: Flowers are ¼ to 1/3 inch long, about ¼ inch across, tubular with a round base and 5 rounded lobes. The 2 upper lobes are longest, extend straight out and are shiny reddish brown on the outside. A lower lobe folds down and is more green. There are 4 stamen; a yellow one that sticks out of the “mouth” is sterile. The flowers are on short open clusters oppositely attached on the top part of the plant. A plant sometimes has more than one “spike” of flowers.
Leaves and stem:: Leaves are up to 8 inches long and 3 inches wide, with a sharply pointed tip, sharp coarse teeth, and leaf stems less than 1/3 the length of the leaf. Attachment is opposite and there are often smaller leaves attached at the leaf joint. The main stem is angled and/or grooved and is slightly hairy when the plant is young but becomes smooth with age.
Fruit:: Fruit is a dull brown sectioned capsule, shaped something like a tear drop.
Notes:: Lance-leaf Figwort isn't a very showy flower, but I think it is interesting nonetheless. Before it flowers it looks similar to Stinging Nettle, but there are no stinging hairs on the leaves.

More other wildflowers. Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN June-July 2007 and June 2008

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?