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The two Monkey Flowers shown on this page are very difficult to tell apart, and, in fact, some botanists treat them as the same species. Harrington says, "[I] cannot separate [Mimulus tilingii] from M. guttatus...." Intermountain Flora indicates "Mimulus tilingii is not always sharply distinct from M. guttatus." The key factors that might separate the two seem to be: 1) M. guttatus stems have more flowers, often over five; M. tilingii often has only one-to-three flowers per stem. 2) M. guttatus flowers are smaller, usually less than two centimeters; M. tilingii flowers are two-to-four centimeters. 3) M. guttatus is taller, often over two decimeters; M. tilingii is usually less than two decimeters. 4) M. guttatus "rarely [has] distinct creeping rhizomes"; M. tilingii has "definite creeping, sod-forming rhizomes" (Weber's words). 5) M. guttatus is most often a plant of Montane streams; M. tilingii is typically found along upper subalpine and alpine wet areas. The genus was named by Linnaeus in 1753; the name is derived from "mimus" ("buffoon") for the clownish appearance of the flower as you stare into the corolla. |
Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state
Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Eradicated
Questionable presence
