Gray monardella facts for kids

The Monardella cinerea is a special type of flowering plant. It is often called the gray monardella. This plant is part of the mint family. It is quite rare and only grows in California.

You can find the gray monardella in specific mountain areas. These include the San Gabriel Mountains and San Jacinto Mountains near Los Angeles. It also grows in the central coast Santa Lucia Mountains. These areas are often within the Los Padres National Forest. This plant likes to grow in rocky, forested places.

What Does Gray Monardella Look Like?

The gray monardella is a small plant. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows in a low, mat-like shape. Its stems are usually short, less than 15 centimeters long.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of this plant are shaped like small triangles. They are very hairy and have tiny dots that are glands. Each leaf is less than one centimeter long.

The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster looks like a head of several flowers. They bloom inside a cup made of reddish or purplish leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts are rough and hairy. The flowers themselves are a pretty purplish-pink color.