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Machi, Mary Ann
Erythranthe trinitiensis
Erythranthe trinitiensis G.LNesom
Pink-margined Monkeyflower
Phrymaceae (Lopseed Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ERTR5
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
"Annual herbs. Stems erect, simple or branched from the base, 5–15 cm, minutely puberulent with gland-tipped trichomes (glands dark), without other trichomes. Leaves mostly cauline, largest at midstem, blades ovate to elliptic-ovate, 6–17 x 4–9 mm, tapered to a narrow petiole 4–8 mm, margins entire or with 1–2 pairs of shallowly dentate-serrate teeth, base attenuate, apex acute, surfaces minutely glandular-puberulent, sometimes sparsely villous-glandular adaxially. Flowers 2 per node, chasmogamous. Fruiting pedicels 9–17 mm, spreading at 80–30º angles, sometimes slightly arching upward. Calyx oblong-ovoid, 8–10 mm, 3.5–5 mm wide (pressed) proximally, sparsely minutely puberulent, distinctly wing-angled, texture even, intercostal area greenish, lobes deltate to triangular, 1–1.5 mm, subequal, erect, margins sparsely ciliate. Corolla tube-throat yellow, lobes (limb) pale yellow to light purplish or white, with distinctly pink borders, palate ridges yellow, throat and ridges weakly red-spotted, floor apparently glabrous, tube-throat 7–10 mm, limb 7–9 mm wide (pressed), weakly 2-lipped. Anthers included, glabrous, all at the same level. Style glabrous, slightly above level of anthers, exserted 4–5 mm beyond apex of mature calyx. Capsule 6–8 mm, included." (Reslit: 3202)
"Similar to Erythranthe pulsiferae in its narrow leaves, minutely glandular-puberulent vestiture, and weakly 2-lipped corollas; different in its consistently petiolate leaves, inflated calyx, and pale yellow to light purplish or white corolla limb with pink borders. " (Reslit: 3202).
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual , PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Ovate
Leaf Margin: Dentate , Serrate
Leaf Apex: Acute
Leaf Base: Attenuate
Size Notes: To about 15 cm.
Leaf: "Mostly cauline, largest at midstem, blades ovate to elliptic-ovate, 6–17 x 4–9 mm, tapered to a narrow petiole 4–8 mm, margins entire or with 1–2 pairs of shallowly dentate-serrate teeth, base attenuate, apex acute, surfaces minutely glandular-puberulent, sometimes sparsley villous-glandular adaxially." (Reslit: 3202).
Flower: "2 per node, chasmogamous." (Reslit: 3202).
Fruit: "Capsule 6–8 mm, included." (Reslit: 3202).
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink , Yellow , PurpleBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: "Endemic essentially to the Trinity Alps of northwestern California (Humboldt, Siskyou, and Trinity cos.)." (Reslit: 3202).
Native Habitat: " Erythranthe trinitiensis grows in lower and upper montane coniferous forests, meadows and seeps, and cismontane woodland habitats. It is often documented on serpentinite and along roadsides (CNPS 2017). Specific records associated with this taxon indicate that E. trinitiensis has been found growing on roadsides and culverts in ultramafic substrate, disturbed soil (roadside), meadows, open conifer forests, seasonally wet roadsides, road cuts, grassy meadows near oak woodlands, and damp and gravelly soil on serpentine. These same records indicate that E. trinitiensis grows alongside Abies magnifica, Epilobium minutum, Festuca californica, Lilium pardalinum, Carex subulata, Triantha occidentalis, Eriogonum nudum, Lomatium tracyi, Toxicoscordion micranthum, Agoseris grandiflora, Pinus jeffreyi, Rhododendron sp., Pinus contorta, P. monticola, Calocedrus decurrens, Juncus sp., Cirsium sp., and Hieracium bolanderi (CNDDB 2017). (Webref: 46).
Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium , HighLight Requirement: Sun , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: "Damp and gravelly soil on serpentine." (Webref: 46).
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesWeb Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 46 - Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (2020) California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program
Research Literature
Reslit 3202 - TWO NEW SPECIES OF ERYTHRANTHE SECT. MIMULOSMA (PHRYMACEAE) FROM CALIFORNIA (2013) GUY L. NESOMThis information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature
Additional resources
USDA: Find Erythranthe trinitiensis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Erythranthe trinitiensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Erythranthe trinitiensis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2025-07-09Research By: Joseph A. Marcus