Bare monkeyflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bare monkeyflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Phrymaceae
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| Genus: |
Mimulus
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| Species: |
M. nudatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Mimulus nudatus Curran ex Greene
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The bare monkeyflower (scientific name: Mimulus nudatus) is a special type of monkeyflower. It grows only in certain areas of California. This means it is endemic to those places. You can find it in the unique serpentine soils of Colusa, Lake, and Napa Counties.
This plant is an annual flower. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has bright yellow, tube-shaped flowers. Its leaves are small and narrow.
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The Bare Monkeyflower: A California Plant
The bare monkeyflower is a fascinating plant that calls California home. It's known for its cheerful yellow blooms. These flowers add a splash of color to the landscapes where they grow.
What Does the Bare Monkeyflower Look Like?
Imagine a small plant with bright, sunny yellow flowers. That's the bare monkeyflower! Its flowers are shaped like tubes. They are quite eye-catching. The plant also has small, thin leaves. These features help it survive in its specific environment.
Where Can You Find This Special Flower?
The bare monkeyflower is a true Californian. It grows only in a few counties: Colusa, Lake, and Napa. This makes it a very special plant because it doesn't grow anywhere else in the world! It prefers a particular type of ground called serpentine soil.
What is Serpentine Soil?
Serpentine soil is a unique kind of soil. It forms from rocks that are rich in certain minerals. This soil can be tough for many plants to grow in. It often has low levels of nutrients that plants need. But the bare monkeyflower is a champion at growing here! It has adapted to these challenging conditions.
Why is the Bare Monkeyflower Unique?
Scientists study the bare monkeyflower as part of a larger group. This group includes other closely related monkeyflower species. They are like cousins in a plant family. Even though they are related, these plants can be very different. They vary in how they reproduce and where they prefer to live.
The bare monkeyflower is special because it usually cannot mix with its plant cousins. This means it has a hard time producing seeds with other monkeyflower species. It's like it has its own special way of making new plants. This helps it stay a unique species.
