Erythranthe guttata

Erythranthe guttata, formerly known as Mimulus guttatus, is a yellow flowering plant in the family Phrymaceae, commonly known as the monkey-flower family. The plant is native to western North America from Alaska to Baja California, and across much of western Canada and the United States.

Description

Erythranthe guttata is a perennial herb that grows up to 60 cm tall. The leaves are opposite, round to oval, and have a toothed margin. The flowers are yellow with a large, corolla, often with red spots. The plant typically blooms from mid-spring to late summer.

Habitat and Distribution

Erythranthe guttata is found in a variety of habitats, including stream banks, wet meadows, and seeps. It is also commonly found in disturbed areas such as ditches and roadsides. The plant is tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions, including high levels of heavy metals in the soil.

Uses

The plant has been used in traditional medicine by Native American tribes. It is also used in ecological research due to its wide distribution and genetic variability.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Mimulus guttatus. In 2012, the species was moved to the genus Erythranthe based on molecular phylogenetic evidence.

See Also

• Erythranthe
• Phrymaceae
• Carl Linnaeus