Allegheny monkeyflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allegheny monkeyflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mimulus
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| Species: |
ringens
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The Mimulus ringens is a type of monkeyflower. People often call it the Allegheny monkeyflower or the square-stemmed monkeyflower.
This plant naturally grows in eastern and central North America. You might also find it in some parts of the western United States. It likes to grow in many different kinds of wet places.
Contents
What is the Allegheny Monkeyflower?
The Allegheny monkeyflower is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from underground stems called rhizomes. These stems help the plant spread.
How Tall Does It Grow?
This plant can grow from 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) to over a meter (more than 3 feet) tall. Its stem usually stands straight up. The stem has four distinct sides, making it look square.
What Do Its Leaves Look Like?
The leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. They are shaped like a spear or an oval. Each leaf can be up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. Sometimes, the leaves join together or almost wrap around the stem. The plant's leaves and stems are smooth, without any hairs.
Describing Its Flowers
The flowers are about 2 to 3 centimeters (1 inch) long. They have a tube-like base. This base is covered by a ribbed cup made of sepals. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. The sepals have pointed tips.
The flowers are a lovely lavender color. Each flower has two main parts. There is an upper lip and a larger, puffy lower lip.
Where Does It Live?
The Allegheny monkeyflower loves wet places. You can find it in marshes, along streams, and in wet meadows. It needs a lot of water to grow well.
A Special Kind of Monkeyflower
There is a rare type of this plant called var. colophilus. This special variety is not very common. It only grows in certain places.
Where is This Rare Variety Found?
This rare monkeyflower is found in Quebec, Canada. It has also been seen in Vermont and a few spots in Maine in the United States. In these areas, it grows only in freshwater parts of estuaries. An estuary is where a river meets the sea, and the water is a mix of fresh and salty.
Why is it Special?
This rare variety faces some challenges. Scientists are still studying it to understand its current health. They want to make sure it stays safe and continues to grow.
