Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Erythranthe inamoena

Erythranthe inamoena (Greene) G. L. Nesom

Texas Monkeyflower

Phrymaceae (Lopseed Family)

Synonym(s): Mimulus inamoenus, Mimulus jamesii var. texensis

USDA Symbol: ERIN16

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

"Annuals, fibrous-rooted, rooting at proximal nodes, sometimes forming matlike colonies. Stems decumbent to decumbent-ascending basally, becoming fully erect at least in inflorescence, simple, sometimes few-branched from proximal nodes, usually distinctly fistulose, 10-30 cm, glabrous." (Webref: 38).

"Erythranthe inamoena is distinctive in its completely glabrous herbage, small corollas, flowers in racemes mostly at distal nodes and with reduced bracts, short and open-throated fruiting calyces, erect and fistulose stems, and apparent annual duration (fibrous-rooted but usually rooting at proximal cauline nodes).

Presumably because of its autogamous reproduction, Erythranthe inamoena has been confused with E. cordata, especially in the trans-Pecos region of Texas, where the two are sympatric. In contrast to E. cordata, E. inamoena usually has glabrous pedicels and calyces, flowers often produced from all nodes, smaller calyces [(7-)8-11 mm] that do not close at maturity, and corollas with a shorter tube-throat (7-11 mm).

Some populations in Brewster, Presidio, and Val Verde counties are identified here as Erythranthe inamoena (based on proximal-to-distal distribution of flowers and the short mature calyces with open throat) but have sparsely stipitate-glandular pedicels and calyces." (Webref: 38).

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Dentate
Leaf Base: Truncate
Size Notes: Stems mostly decumbent to about 12 inches long. Reportedly may reach several feet in length.
Leaf: "Leaves basal and cauline, basal sometimes deciduous by flowering; petiole: basal and proximals to mid cauline 10-70 mm, distals 0 mm; blade palmately veined, ovate to broadly ovate or elliptic-ovate, becoming subreniform distally, (5-)15-35(-60) mm, distal closely paired, auriculate-subclasping, base truncate to subcordate, margins dentate-serrate to shallowly dentate, teeth 5-11 per side, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces glabrous." (Webref: 38).
Flower: "Flowers plesiogamous, (6-)8-18(-24), often produced from all nodes, loosely to densely racemose, chasmogamous. Fruiting pedicels 9-20 mm, glabrous, rarely sparsely stipitate-glandular. Fruiting calyces purple-spotted, sometimes greenish, broadly cylindric-campanulate, inflated, sagittally compressed, 7-11 mm, glabrous, rarely minutely scabrous-hirtellous or sparsely stipitate-glandular, throat not closing, abaxial lobe slightly upcurving 10-45 degrees, spreading 45 degrees, or sometimes deflexed 40 degrees. Corollas yellow, red-spotted, bilaterally symmetric, bilabiate; tube-throat cylindric, 7-11 mm, exserted (1-)2-3(-4) mm beyond calyx margin; limb slightly expanded. Styles glabrous. Anthers included, glabrous." (Webref: 38).
Fruit: "Capsules included, 4.5-6 mm." (Webref: 38).

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: "Phenology: Flowering Jan-Apr(-Sep)."� (Webref: 38).

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: Central and Trans-Pecos Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico.
Native Habitat: "Habitat: Edge of seeps and creeks, mud or gravel, shallow running water, wet crevices, canyon drainages. Elevation: 100-2400 m." (Webref: 38).

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Soil Moisture: Wet

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Erythranthe inamoena in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Erythranthe inamoena in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Erythranthe inamoena

Metadata

Record Modified: 2026-04-15
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

Go back