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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.

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Mimulus ringens (Allegheny monkeyflower)
Muller, Thomas L.

Mimulus ringens

Mimulus ringens L.

Allegheny Monkeyflower, Square-stemmed Monkeyflower, Square-stem Monkeyflower

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: MIRI

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Asymmetrical, 2-lipped, blue-purple flowers rise from the axils of opposite leaves that clasp the square stem.

The flower looks something like a monkey's face, hence the common and genus names, the latter from the Latin mimus ("a buffoon"). A variety of this plant, M. ringens var. colpophilus, found from Quebec to Maine on tidal muds, is classified as an endangered species in Maine. The lavender-flowering Sharp-winged Monkeyflower (M. alatus) has stalked leaves and a winged stem. It is more common southward and westward in wet sites.

 

From the Image Gallery

21 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Pink , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia; south to Georgia; west to Alabama; Louisiana, and northeastern Texas.
Native Habitat: Wet meadows and streambanks.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Loam

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Common Buckeye, Baltimore checkerspots

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Baltimore
(Euphydryas phaeton)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA
Common Buckeye
(Junonia coenia)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2021-01-28
Research By: TWC Staff

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