Mimulus
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Mimulus (monkey-flower) is a highly diverse plant genus of about 150 species currently placed in the family Phrymaceae. The removal of Mimulus from the family Scrophulariaceae has been supported by molecular studies of chloroplast DNA first published in the mid-1990s. Multiple studies of chloroplast DNA and two regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA suggest that the genera Phryma, Berendtiella, Hemichaena, Leucocarpus, Microcarpeae, Peplidium, Glossostigma, and Elacholoma are all derived from within Mimulus. We now recognize that there are two large groups of Mimulus species, the largest in western North America, and a second group with center of diversity in Australia. A few species also extend into eastern North America, eastern Asia and southern Africa. This enlarged group is a part of the newly redefined Phrymaceae . They are called monkey flowers due to the fact that when you squeeze them at the lower part of the flower, the flower opens, doing so repeatedly, gives the humorous illusion of a monkey.
Most of the species are annuals and herbaceous perennials, but a few species are subshrubs with woody stems; these are treated in the section Diplacus. Diplacus is clearly derived from within Mimulus, thus it should not be treated as a genus separate from Mimulus as previously suggested.
Mimulus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Mouse Moth.
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Selected species
- Mimulus alsinoides (Chickweed Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus brevipes (Wide-throated Yellow Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus cardinalis (Scarlet Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus cupreus
- Mimulus fremontii
- Mimulus guttatus (Common Large Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus lewisii (Great Purple Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus luteus (Yellow Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus moschatus (Musk-flower)
- Mimulus nasutus
- Mimulus pilosus (Downy Mimetanthe)
- Mimulus primuloides
- Mimulus ringens (Allegheny Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus tilingii (Large Mountain Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus variegatus
- Mimulus aurantiacus (syn. Diplacus aurantiacus; Orange Bush Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus longiflorus (syn. Diplacus longiflorus; Southern Bush Monkey-flower)
- Mimulus puniceus (syn. Diplacus puniceus; Red Bush Monkey-flower)
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