Phrymaceae

• Mimulus cardinalis

• Query IPNI
• Common Name: Scarlet Monkey Flower
• Family: Phrymaceae Schauer

• Country of Origin: sw USA and adjacent Mexico
• Habitat: montane stream banks & shorelines

• Description: Herbaceous perennial of the southwest US and Mexico growing to 1m tall by 30cm wide. It has sharply toothed, hairy, mid-green leaves and produces racemes of yellow-throated scarlet flowers from summer through fall. The flowers have arched, exserted stamens and are pollinated by hummingbirds. Found on banks of streams and ponds in montane and cismontane areas below 2400m, it needs a sheltered position as it tends to sprawl if battered by rain and wind.