Mimulus glabratus (Round-leaf Monkey Flower)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Mimulus
Family:Phrymaceae (Lopseed)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:sun; wet; shallow water, cold springs, seeps, calcareous fens
Bloom season:June - August
Plant height:6 to 18 inches
Wetland Indicator Status:GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: irregular Flower shape: tubular

[photo of flowers] The ½-inch bright yellow flowers are highly irregular with two upper lobes and three lower, and emerge from upper leaf axils on short stems.The lower lip is hairy (bearded) into the throat with two reddish-brown spots at the base. The calyx cupping the flower is bell-shaped, up to ½ inch long, with 5 unequal lobes.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: opposite Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are smooth to slightly hairy on upper leaf surface. The leaves are opposite and generally round with smooth to slightly toothed edges, are ¼ to 1 inch in diameter with lower ones on short stems while upper leaves clasp the stem. Stems are smooth to sparsely hairy, diffusely branched and often very red.

Fruit: Fruit type: capsule/pod

[photo of developing fruit] Fruit is a 2-celled capsule wrapped in the persistent calyx, which turns papery as fruit matures.

[photo of seeds Inside are numerous oval, golden brown seeds each about .5 mm long.

Notes:

The stems of Round-leaf Monkey Flower are weak so it tends to grow prostrate but may be ascending, sometimes just at the tips. While not as commonly encountered as the blue Allegheny Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens), this smaller yellow flowered species ranges from almost the arctic circle to S. America. There are 4 varieties of S. glabratus in North America, though they are not well-documented; var. jamesii, formerly var. fremontii, is the most common and is present in Minnesota.

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More photos

Photos by Peter M. Dziuk taken at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA, Dakota County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Laurie Bruno - St Paul
on: 2024-04-13 13:54:38

Seek just identified erythanthe guttata in a wooded part of my yard about 2 blocks from the Mississippi River in St. Paul.

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