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Erythranthe primuloides (Primrose monkeyflower)

Reveal, James L.

Erythranthes primuloides

Erythranthes primuloides (Benth.) G.L.Nesom & N.S.Fraga

Primrose Monkeyflower, Yellow Creeping Monkeyflower, Creeping Yellow Monkeyflower, Yellow Creeping Monkey-flower

Phrymaceae (Lopseed Family)

Synonym(s): Mimulus nevadensis, Mimulus pilosellus, Mimulus primuloides, Mimulus primuloides ssp. primuloides, Mimulus primuloides var. minimus, Mimulus primuloides var. pilosellus, Mimulus primuloides var. primuloides

USDA Symbol: ERPR

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

"Perennials, rhizomatous or stoloniferous, mat-forming, rhizomes or stolons flagelliform. Stems erect to ascending, usually simple, 2-10(-20) cm, villous, internodes shortened." (Webref: 38).

"Flowers in Erythranthe primuloides and E. linearifolia characteristically appear to be scapose, but the scapes are pedicels arising from axils of greatly foreshortened stems. Occasionally in both species the internodes may lengthen somewhat, and the leaves are not so densely clustered at the base of the stems.

In northern Klamath, western Deschutes, and eastern Douglas counties, Oregon, an area within the range of typical populations, Erythranthe primuloides has distinctively large corollas (limbs 10-15 mm wide). Apparent clones of large-flowered and smaller-flowered plants sometimes grow in close proximity or even intermixed, appearing as two different entities." (Webref: 38).

From the Image Gallery

11 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Shape: Oblanceolate
Leaf Venation: Palmate
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous , Villose
Leaf Margin: Dentate , Denticulate , Entire
Leaf Apex: Acute , Obtuse
Leaf Base: Attenuate , Cuneate
Fruit Type: Capsule , Caryopsis
Size Notes: To about 8 inches in height.
Leaf: "Leaves all basal or near basal, often rosulate; petiole 0 mm; blade palmately 3-veined, oblanceolate to elliptic-obovate, 7-40 x 4-12 mm, base cuneate to attenuate, margins entire, distally denticulate to dentate, or sharply serrate-dentate, apex acute to obtuse, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial glabrous or glabrate to sparsely to densely long-villous, eglandular." (Webref: 38).
Flower: "Flowers herkogamous, Fruiting pedicels 30-110(-130) mm, glabrous or sparsely stipitate-glandular near base. Fruiting calyces tubular-campanulate, weakly or not inflated, 6-8 mm, glabrous. Corollas yellow to orange-yellow, usually brown-spotted abaxially, base of each abaxial lobe usually with a larger reddish brown spot, bilaterally or nearly radially symmetric, weakly bilabiate or nearly regular, densely hirsute on abaxial side of opening; tube-throat narrowly campanulate, 15-20 mm, exserted beyond calyx margin; lobes broadly obovate-oblong, apex rounded- or truncate-notched, throat open, palate densely villous, abaxial ridges prominent. Styles glabrous. Anthers slightly exserted, margins ciliate, glabrous." (Webref: 38).
Fruit: "Capsules included, 6-7 mm." (Webref: 38).

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Orange , Yellow , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: "Phenology: Flowering Jun-Aug."� (Webref: 38).

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , ID , MT , NV , OR , UT , WA
Native Distribution: Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington; Baja California, Mexico
Native Habitat: "Habitat: Wet meadows, seeps, streamsides. Elevation: 600-3400 m." (Webref: 38).

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Moist or wet soils.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FACW							OBL

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2026-05-19
Research By: TWC Staff

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