Tonella

Tonella is a genus of flowering plants in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. The genus is native to western North America, ranging from British Columbia to California.

Description: Tonella species are typically small, annual herbs with slender stems and opposite leaves. The leaves are often deeply lobed or dissected. The flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils and are small and inconspicuous. The corolla is generally white or pale purple and has five lobes. The fruit is a capsule containing numerous small seeds.

Taxonomy: Tonella was formerly placed in the Scrophulariaceae family but has since been moved to the Plantaginaceae family based on molecular phylogenetic data. The genus contains only a few species. Some botanists consider certain species within the genus to be varieties of other species, leading to some taxonomic uncertainty.

Ecology: Tonella species typically grow in moist, shady habitats, such as woodlands and stream banks. They are often found in disturbed areas.

Conservation Status: The conservation status of individual Tonella species varies depending on their distribution and abundance. Some species may be locally rare or threatened due to habitat loss.