Mimulus aurantiacus

Mimulus aurantiacus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Phrymaceae
Genus: Mimulus
Species: M. aurantiacus
Binomial name
Mimulus aurantiacus
Curtis
Synonyms

Diplacus aurantiacus Mimulus aurantiacus Curtis
Mimulus aurantiacus var. aurantiacus Curtis
Diplacus aurantiacus (Curtis)
Diplacus glutinosus (J.C. Wendl.) Nutt.
Diplacus latifolius Nutt.
Diplacus leptanthus Nutt.
Mimulus glutinosus J.C. Wendl.
Mimulus leptanthus (Nutt.) A.L. Grant
Mimulus viscosus Moench
Diplacus glutinosus var. aurantiacus (Curtis) Lindl.

Mimulus aurantiacus, the sticky monkey-flower or orange bush monkey-flower, is a flowering plant that grows in a subshrub form, native to southwestern North America from southwestern Oregon south through most of California. It is a member of the lopseed family, Phrymaceae, or, alternately, the Scrophulariaceae. It is treated by some botanists in a separate genus from other Mimulus as Diplacus aurantiacus.[1]

Description

Mimulus aurantiacus grows up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall, has deep green, sticky leaves 3 to 7 centimeters long and up to a centimeter broad and flowering stems that grow vertically.[1] The flowers are tubular at the base and about 2 centimeters long with five broad lobes; they occur in a variety of shades from white to red, the most common color being a light orange. They are honey plants pollinated by bees and hummingbirds.

It grows in many climates and will thrive in many types of soil, wet, dry, sandy, or rocky. It even grows in serpentine, a soil that most plants have difficulty thriving in because of its unique mineral composition.

Mimulus aurantiacus is an important host plant for the larvae of the common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) and the variable checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona),[2] despite a phenolic resin in the leaves which deter its feeding.[3] This resin also helps the plant retain water in dry environments.[3]

Cultivation

Species and cultivars are used in water conserving, native plant, and habitat gardens.[4]

Traditional Native American medical plant

The Miwok and Pomo Native Americans used the plant to treat minor ailments such as sores, burns, diarrhea, and eye irritation. They used the colorful flowers for decorative purposes.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Mimulus aurantiacus. The Jepson Manual.
  2. ↑ Mimulus aurantiacus. California Wildflowers. California Academy of Sciences.
  3. 1 2 Han, K., & Lincoln, D. E. (1994). The evolution of carbon allocation to plant secondary metabolites: a genetic analysis of cost in Diplacus aurantiacus. Evolution 48(5) 1550-63.
  4. ↑ Nickel, E. Mimulus are exotic natives of California. San Francisco Chronicle August 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ Sticky Monkey Flower. Presidio of San Francisco. National Park Service.
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