Mimulus pictus

Mimulus pictus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Phrymaceae
Genus: Mimulus
Species: M. pictus
Binomial name
Mimulus pictus
(Greene) A.Gray

Mimulus pictus is a species of monkeyflower known by the common name calico monkeyflower. [1]

Distribution

The wildflower is endemic to California, found only above the southeastern San Joaquin Valley within Kern County and Tulare County. [1]

It is known only from the western Tehachapi Mountains and southernmost Sierra Nevada foothills, at elevations of 135–1,250 metres (443–4,101 ft). [1][2][3] It grows in open California oak woodland habitat, in bare rocky soils around granite outcrops. [1][2]

It is a listed Endangered species on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants. [4]

Description

Mimulus pictus is a small annual herb growing from 2–28 centimetres (0.79–11.02 in) in height. [2]

The stem is hairy and rectangular in cross-section. The oppositely arranged leaves are somewhat oval in shape and up to 4.5 centimeters long.

The tubular base of the flower is encapsulated in a dark reddish calyx of sepals with uneven lobes. The five-lobed flower has a maroon throat and the circular face is white with bold and intricately patterned purple-brown veining. [2] The bloom period varies from March to May. [2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Calflora: Mimulus pictus
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Jepson eFlora (TJM2):Mimulus pictus
  3. ↑ Tejon Ranch Conservancy: Tejon Ranch Plant Species List, Phrymaceae family species
  4. ↑ California Native Plant Society, Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02): Mimulus pictus . accessed 26 March 2016.


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