Palmer's monardella facts for kids

Monardella palmeri, also known as Palmer's monardella, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the mint family, just like the mint you might find in your garden!

Where Does Palmer's Monardella Grow?

Palmer's monardella is a special plant because it grows only in California. This means it is "endemic" to California. You can find it in the Santa Lucia Mountains. These mountains are part of the California Coast Ranges. Specifically, it grows in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. It likes to live in places like chaparral (a type of shrubland) and forests. Often, it grows in a special kind of ground called serpentine soil.

What Does Palmer's Monardella Look Like?

Palmer's monardella is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from underground stems called "rhizomes." This helps it spread and form a small clump of thin, purplish stems. These stems can grow up to about 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long.

The leaves are tough and shaped like a spear. They are about 1 to 2 centimeters long. When the plant blooms, its flowers grow in a round cluster. This cluster sits inside a cup made of tough, purplish leaves called "bracts." This cup can be about 3 centimeters wide. The flowers themselves are pinkish-purple. They can be up to 2 centimeters long. Each flower has five narrow tips that look like small lobes.