Scrophularia californica, in common name the California bee plant, is a native to - you guessed it - California! It occurs surrounding California's central valley and most frequently in southern California below the transverse ranges down into Baja California. From the order Lamiales, it can be recognized when not in bloom by its square stem and large and widely spaced tooth-edged leaves. Even when in bloom the flowers are small and easily overlooked where it grows in shade, but not by bees despite the coloration as bees do not perceive red flowers well.) Hummingbirds and small wasps are also noted visitors to the flowers and the foliage hosts several species of moth and butterfly larvae.
One quirky thing about S. californica is the flower morphology - the stigma is presented first and droops before the anthers are presented - not simultaneously. A fifth sterile stamen (staminode) is appressed to the upper surface of the tube, and from my reading, the reason for this is not yet known!
