Mimulus pulchellus
Encyclopedia
Mimulus pulchellus is an uncommon species of monkeyflower
known by the common name yellowlip pansy monkeyflower.
, where it can be found at vernal pool
s, meadows, and other wet, open habitat.
Mimulus
Mimulus is a diverse plant genus, the monkey-flowers and musk-flowers. The about 150 species are currently placed in the family Phrymaceae. The genus has traditionally been placed in Scrophulariaceae. The removal of Mimulus from that family has been supported by studies of chloroplast DNA first...
known by the common name yellowlip pansy monkeyflower.
Description
Mimulus pulchellus is is a petite annual herb growing in small tufts or patches on the ground with hardly any stem. The oppositely arranged leaves are linear in shape and up to 3.5 centimeters long. The flower is 2 to 4 centimeters long and funnel-shaped, with a very narrow tubular base and very wide mouth. The flower is divided into an upper lip with two lobes and a lower with three. It is bicolored, the upper lip lavender to purple and the lower lip golden yellow; sometimes only the wide middle lobe of the lower lip is yellow. The hairy mouth of the flower is usually spotted and speckled with purple.Distribution
Mimulus pulchellus is endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills of CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it can be found at vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s, meadows, and other wet, open habitat.