Mimulus cardinalis
Encyclopedia
Mimulus cardinalis, the scarlet monkeyflower, is a flowering perennial in the family Phrymaceae
. Together with other species in Mimulus
section Erythranthe, it serves as a model system for studying pollinator-based reproductive isolation
.
and Southwestern United States
and Baja California
, and is generally found at low elevation in moist areas. Occasional populations of yellow-flowered Mimulus cardinalis (which lack anthocyanin
pigments in their corollas) are found in the wild.
trade and widely available as an ornamental plant
for: traditional garden
s; natural landscape
, native plant
, and habitat gardens; and various types of municipal, commercial, and agency sustainable landscape
projects. Cultivars come in a range of colors between yellow and red, including the "Santa Cruz Island
Gold" variety, originally collected from Santa Cruz Island off the coast of California.
s, whose foreheads serve as the pollen
transfer surface between flowers. In the area where it overlaps with its sister species, Mimulus lewisii
, reproductive isolation
is maintained almost exclusively through pollinator preference.
Phrymaceae
Phrymaceae , also known as the Lopseed family, is a small plant family in the order Lamiales. It now consists of about 190 species, distributed worldwide but with the majority in western North America and Australia .Previously, this family was monotypic with the genus Phryma, and limited in...
. Together with other species in Mimulus
Mimulus
Mimulus is a diverse plant genus, the monkey-flowers and musk-flowers. The about 150 species are currently placed in the family Phrymaceae. The genus has traditionally been placed in Scrophulariaceae. The removal of Mimulus from that family has been supported by studies of chloroplast DNA first...
section Erythranthe, it serves as a model system for studying pollinator-based reproductive isolation
Reproductive isolation
The mechanisms of reproductive isolation or hybridization barriers are a collection of mechanisms, behaviors and physiological processes that prevent the members of two different species that cross or mate from producing offspring, or which ensure that any offspring that may be produced is not...
.
Description
It is a fairly large, spreading, attractive plant which bears strongly reflexed, nectar-rich red or orange-red flowers and toothed, downy leaves. It is native to the West CoastWest Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
and Southwestern United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
and Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, and is generally found at low elevation in moist areas. Occasional populations of yellow-flowered Mimulus cardinalis (which lack anthocyanin
Anthocyanin
Anthocyanins are water-soluble vacuolar pigments that may appear red, purple, or blue according to pH...
pigments in their corollas) are found in the wild.
Cultivation
Mimulus cardinalis is cultivated in the horticultureHorticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
trade and widely available as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
for: traditional garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s; natural landscape
Natural landscaping
.Natural landscaping, also called native gardening, is the use of native plants, including trees, shrubs, groundcover, and grasses which are indigenous to the geographic area of the garden.-Maintenance:...
, native plant
California native plants
California native plants are plants that existed in California prior to the arrival of European explorers and colonists in the late 18th century...
, and habitat gardens; and various types of municipal, commercial, and agency sustainable landscape
Sustainable landscaping
Sustainable landscaping encompasses a variety of practices that have developed in response to environmental issues. These practices are used in every phase of landscaping, including design, construction, implementation and management of residential and commercial landscapes. Issues of...
projects. Cultivars come in a range of colors between yellow and red, including the "Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island was the largest privately owned island off the continental United States, but is currently part-owned by the National Park service . The island, located off the coast of California, is long and from wide...
Gold" variety, originally collected from Santa Cruz Island off the coast of California.
Pollination
Its blooms and large nectar load attract hummingbirdHummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
s, whose foreheads serve as the pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
transfer surface between flowers. In the area where it overlaps with its sister species, Mimulus lewisii
Mimulus lewisii
Mimulus lewisii is a perennial plant in the family Phrymaceae. It is named in honor of Meriwether Lewis...
, reproductive isolation
Reproductive isolation
The mechanisms of reproductive isolation or hybridization barriers are a collection of mechanisms, behaviors and physiological processes that prevent the members of two different species that cross or mate from producing offspring, or which ensure that any offspring that may be produced is not...
is maintained almost exclusively through pollinator preference.