Bigelow's monkeyflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bigelow's monkeyflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Diplacus
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| Species: |
bigelovii
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Bigelow's monkeyflower, also known as Diplacus bigelovii, is a type of wild flower. It grows naturally in the dry, sunny areas of the southwestern United States. You can find it in deserts and on hillsides. This plant used to be called Mimulus bigelovii.
What Does Bigelow's Monkeyflower Look Like?
Bigelow's monkeyflower is a small, hairy plant. It grows new each year from a seed. Its stem stands straight up, reaching about 2 to 25 centimeters (about 1 to 10 inches) tall. The plant's size, shape, and even its color can change a lot. It might be green or even look almost red.
The leaves are shaped like pointed ovals or are rounded. Each leaf can be up to 3.5 centimeters long. They grow in pairs, with two leaves directly across from each other on the stem.
The Flower's Special Parts
The flower has a tube-like base. This base is covered by a reddish-green or purple cup-like structure called a calyx. The calyx has ribs and is made of hairy sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals have long tips.
The flower itself is shaped like a trumpet. It's called a corolla and is about one to two centimeters long. It has a very narrow tube that opens into a wide mouth. The corolla has two parts on top and three parts on the bottom. It's usually a bright magenta or deep pink color. Inside the throat of the flower, you can often see darker red, purple, and yellow spots.
