Erythranthe guttata

Erythranthe guttata
Secure
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Phrymaceae
Genus: Erythranthe
Species:
E. guttata
Binomial name
Erythranthe guttata
Synonyms
Synonymy
  • Mimulus clementinus Greene
  • Mimulus cupriphilus Macnair
  • Mimulus duplex Wettst.
  • Mimulus equinus Greene
  • Mimulus exquisitus J.Muir
  • Mimulus formosa-elegans Ysabeau
  • Mimulus glabratus var. adscendens A.Gray
  • Mimulus grandiflorus Howell
  • Mimulus guttatus DC.
  • Mimulus guttatus subsp. typicus Pennell
  • Mimulus guttatus var. cupriphilus (Macnair) D.W.Taylor
  • Mimulus guttatus var. depauperatus (A.Gray) A.L.Grant
  • Mimulus guttatus var. gracilior H.St.John
  • Mimulus guttatus subsp. haidensis Calder & Roy L.Taylor
  • Mimulus guttatus subsp. litoralis Pennell
  • Mimulus guttatus var. lyratus (Benth.) Pennell
  • Mimulus guttatus var. platycalyx (Pennell) D.W.Taylor
  • Mimulus hirsutus Howell, nom. illeg. homonym. post.
  • Mimulus langsdorffii Donn ex Greene
  • Mimulus langsdorffii var. argutus Greene
  • Mimulus langsdorffii var. guttatus (DC.) Jeps.
  • Mimulus langsdorffii var. minima J.K.Henry
  • Mimulus langsdorffii var. platyphyllus Greene
  • Mimulus luteus var. depauperatus A.Gray
  • Mimulus lyratus Benth.
  • Mimulus maclainii Ysabeau
  • Mimulus paniculatus Greene
  • Mimulus petiolaris Greene
  • Mimulus pictus Ysabeau
  • Mimulus platycalyx Pennell
  • Mimulus prionophyllus Greene
  • Mimulus whipplei A.L.Grant

Erythranthe guttata, with the common names seep monkeyflower and common yellow monkeyflower, is a yellow bee-pollinated annual or perennial flowering plant. It was formerly known as Mimulus guttatus.

Erythranthe guttata is a model organism for biological studies, and in that context is still referred to as Mimulus guttatus. There may be as many as 1000 scientific papers focused on this species. The genome is being studied in depth.

For combined research of evolution, genetics, and ecology, particularly plant-insect interactions, the yellow monkeyflower has become a model system. With the help of physically resistant protections called trichomes, which have been thoroughly examined, the yellow monkeyflower defends itself against herbivores.

Description

The lower lip may have one large to many small red to reddish brown spots. The opening to the flower is hairy.

A highly variable plant, taking many forms, E. guttata is a species complex in that there is room to treat some of its forms as different species by some definitions.

The plant ranges from 10 to 80 centimetres (4 to 31+1⁄2 in) tall with disproportionately large, 2 to 4 cm long, tubular flowers. The perennial form spreads with stolons or rhizomes. The stem may be erect or recumbent. In the latter form, roots may develop at leaf nodes. Sometimes dwarfed, it may be hairless or have some hairs.

Leaves are opposite, round to oval, usually coarsely and irregularly toothed or lobed. The bright yellow flowers are born on a raceme, most often with five or more flowers.

juvenile monkeyflower showing stem and calyx

The calyx has five lobes that are much shorter than the flower. Each flower has bilateral symmetry and has two lips. The upper lip usually has two lobes; the lower, three. The lower lip may have one large to many small red to reddish brown spots (hence the name guttata, which is Latin for 'spotted'). The opening to the flower is hairy.

Erythranthe guttata is pollinated by bees, such as Bombus species. Inbreeding reduces flower quantity and size and pollen quality and quantity. E. guttata also displays a high degree of self-pollination. Erythranthe nasuta (Mimulus nasutus) evolved from E. guttata in central California between 200,000 and 500,000 years ago and since then has become primarily a self-pollinator. Other differences have occurred since then, such as genetic code variations and variations in plant morphology. E. guttata prefers a wetter habitat than E. nasuta.

Taxonomy

Erythranthe guttata was given its first scientific name, Mimulus guttatus, in 1813 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle. In 2012 it was moved to the genus Erythranthe by Guy L. Nesom, giving the species its accepted name. Together with its genus it is classified in the family Phrymaceae. According to Plants of the World Online it has 32 synonyms.

Table of Synonyms
Name Year Rank Notes
Mimulus clementinus Greene 1909 species = het.
Mimulus cupriphilus Macnair 1989 species = het.
Mimulus duplex Wettst. 1891 species = het.
Mimulus equinus Greene 1906 species = het.
Mimulus exquisitus J.Muir 1874 species = het.
Mimulus formosa-elegans Ysabeau 1851 species = het.
Mimulus glabratus var. adscendens A.Gray 1886 variety = het.
Mimulus grandiflorus Howell 1901 species = het.
Mimulus guttatus DC. 1813 species ≡ hom.
Mimulus guttatus var. cupriphilus (Macnair) D.W.Taylor 2010 variety = het.
Mimulus guttatus var. depauperatus (A.Gray) A.L.Grant 1924 variety = het.
Mimulus guttatus var. gracilior H.St.John 1963 variety = het.
Mimulus guttatus subsp. haidensis Calder & Roy L.Taylor 1965 subspecies = het.
Mimulus guttatus subsp. litoralis Pennell 1947 subspecies = het.
Mimulus guttatus var. lyratus (Benth.) Pennell 1941 variety = het.
Mimulus guttatus var. platycalyx (Pennell) D.W.Taylor 2010 variety = het.
Mimulus guttatus subsp. typicus Pennell 1947 subspecies ≡ hom., not validly publ.
Mimulus hirsutus Howell 1901 species = het., nom. illeg.
Mimulus langsdorffii Donn ex Greene 1895 species ≡ hom., nom. superfl.
Mimulus langsdorffii var. argutus Greene 1895 variety = het.
Mimulus langsdorffii var. guttatus (DC.) Jeps. 1901 variety ≡ hom., nom. superfl.
Mimulus langsdorffii var. minima J.K.Henry 1915 variety = het.
Mimulus langsdorffii var. platyphyllus Greene 1895 variety = het.
Mimulus luteus var. depauperatus A.Gray 1876 variety = het.
Mimulus lyratus Benth. 1835 species = het.
Mimulus maclainii Ysabeau 1851 species = het.
Mimulus paniculatus Greene 1906 species = het.
Mimulus petiolaris Greene 1909 species = het.
Mimulus pictus Ysabeau 1851 species = het.
Mimulus platycalyx Pennell 1947 species = het.
Mimulus prionophyllus Greene 1906 species = het.
Mimulus whipplei A.L.Grant 1924 species = het.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym

Distribution and habitat

A herbaceous wildflower, Erythranthe guttata grows along the banks of streams and seeps throughout much of western North America from sea level to 12,000 feet (3,700 m). Both annual and perennial forms occur throughout the species' range. It blooms during spring at low elevations, during summer at high elevations.

It is found in a wide range of habitats including the splash zone of the Pacific Ocean, the chaparral of California, Western U.S. deserts, the geysers of Yellowstone National Park, alpine meadows, serpentine barrens, and even on the toxic tailings of copper mines. It is also very common in New Zealand near water bodies.

The flower is also an introduced species in Europe.

In the Faroe Islands this flower is called "laurusa blomstur" (e. Lauras flowers). It was brought to the islands in 1926 by an Icelandic woman named Arnþrúður Lára Pétursdóttir (called Laura Einarsson in the Faroe Islands). She brought the flower to Rituvík and from there it has spread across the Islands and is now very common.

Cultivation

Erythranthe guttata is cultivated in the specialty horticulture trade and available as an ornamental plant for: traditional gardens; natural landscape, native plant, and habitat gardens.

Uses

The leaves are edible, both raw and cooked. Leaves are sometimes added to salads as a lettuce substitute. They have a slight bitter flavour.

References

  1. ↑ Maiz-Tome, L. (2016). "Mimulus guttatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T64318116A67730117. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T64318116A67730117.en. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  2. ↑ NatureServe (9 January 2026). "Erythranthe guttata". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 POWO (2026). "Erythranthe guttata (DC.) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  4. ↑ Barker, W.R.; Nesom, G.L.; Beardsley, P.M.; Fraga, N.S. (2012), "A taxonomic conspectus of Phrymaceae: A narrowed circumscriptions for Mimulus, new and resurrected genera, and new names and combinations" (PDF), Phytoneuron, 2012–39: 1–60
  5. 1 2 Giblin, David, ed. (2015). "Erythranthe guttata". WTU Herbarium Image Collection. Burke Museum, University of Washington. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  6. ↑ Beardsley, P. M.; Yen, Alan; Olmstead, R. G. (2003). "AFLP Phylogeny of Mimulus Section Erythranthe and the Evolution of Hummingbird Pollination". Evolution. 57 (6): 1397–1410. doi:10.1554/02-086. JSTOR 3448862. PMID 12894947. S2CID 198154155.
  7. ↑ Beardsley, P. M.; Olmstead, R. G. (2002). "Redefining Phrymaceae: the placement of Mimulus, tribe Mimuleae, and Phryma". American Journal of Botany. 89 (7): 1093–1102. doi:10.3732/ajb.89.7.1093. JSTOR 4122195. PMID 21665709.
  8. ↑ Beardsley, P. M.; Schoenig, Steve E.; Whittall, Justen B.; Olmstead, Richard G. (2004). "Patterns of Evolution in Western North American Mimulus (Phrymaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 91 (3): 474–4890. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.3.474. JSTOR 4123743. PMID 21653403. S2CID 11035527.
  9. ↑ Lowry, David B.; Sobel, James M.; Angert, Amy L.; Ashman, Tia-Lynn; Baker, Robert L.; Blackman, Benjamin K.; Brandvain, Yaniv; Byers, Kelsey J.R.P.; Cooley, Arielle M.; Coughlan, Jennifer M.; Dudash, Michele R. (2019-11-15). "The case for the continued use of the genus name Mimulus for all monkeyflowers". Taxon. 68 (4): 617–623. doi:10.1002/tax.12122. hdl:20.500.11820/cac4d1b0-516a-4027-bab9-b8fdcdca892b. ISSN 0040-0262. S2CID 208584689.
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  11. ↑ Keefover-Ring, Ken; Holeski, Liza M.; Bowers, M. Deane; Clauss, Allen D.; Lindroth, Richard L. (2014-12-01). "Phenylpropanoid glycosides of Mimulus guttatus (yellow monkeyflower)". Phytochemistry Letters. 10: 132–139. Bibcode:2014PChL...10..132K. doi:10.1016/j.phytol.2014.08.016. ISSN 1874-3900.
  12. ↑ Fishman, Lila; Kelly, Alan J.; Morgan, Emily; Willis, John H. (2001). "A Genetic Map in the Mimulus guttatus Species Complex Reveals Transmission Ratio Distortion due to Heterospecific Interactions". Genetics. 159 (4): 1701–1716. doi:10.1093/genetics/159.4.1701. PMC 1461909. PMID 11779808.
  13. ↑ Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 48. ISBN 0-87842-280-3. OCLC 25708726.
  14. ↑ Klinkenberg, Brian, ed. (2014). "Mimulus guttatus". E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Archived from the original on 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
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  16. ↑ "Mimulus guttatus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  17. ↑ Pojar, Jim; Andy MacKinnon (2004). Plants Of The Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Lone Pine Publishing. p. 264. ISBN 978-1-55105-530-5.
  18. ↑ Turner, Mark; Phyllis Gustafson (2006). Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-88192-745-0.
  19. ↑ Carr, David E.; Roulston, T'ai H.; Hart, Haley (2014). "Inbreeding in Mimulus guttatus Reduces Visitation by Bumble Bee Pollinators". PLOS ONE. 9 (7) e101463. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9j1463C. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0101463. PMC 4103763. PMID 25036035.
  20. ↑ Ritland, Kermit (1989). "Correlated Matings in the Partial Selfer Mimulus guttatus". Evolution. 43 (4): 848–859. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1989.tb05182.x. JSTOR 2409312. PMID 28564194. S2CID 6227723.
  21. ↑ Brandvain, Yaniv; Kenney, Amanda M.; Flagel, Lex; Coop, Graham; Sweigert, Andrea L. (2014). "Speciation and Introgression between Mimulus nasutus and Mimulus guttatus". PLOS Genetics. 10 (6) e1004410. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1004410. PMC 4072524. PMID 24967630.
  22. ↑ Dole, Jefferey A. (1992). "Reproductive Assurance Mechanisms in Three Taxa of the Mimulus guttatus Complex (Scrophulariaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 79 (6): 650–659. doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1992.tb14607.x. JSTOR 2444881.
  23. ↑ Kiang, Y. T.; Hamrick, J. L. (1978). "Reproductive Isolation in the Mimulus guttatus M. nasutus Complex". The American Midland Naturalist. 100 (2): 269–276. doi:10.2307/2424826. JSTOR 2424826.
  24. 1 2 Sullivan, Steven. K. (2015). "Mimulus guttatus". Wildflower Search. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
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  26. ↑ "Erythranthe guttata". Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  27. ↑ Jensen, Jens-Kjeld; Thorning-Lund, Flemming; Hammer, Sjúrður (2023). "Supplement to Faroe Islands botanical list with 64 species or subspecies including rare, new and potentially invasive species with comments". Nordic Journal of Botany. 2023 (7) e03586. doi:10.1111/njb.03586. ISSN 1756-1051.
  28. ↑ Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
  29. ↑ Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968
  30. ↑ Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9