Mimulus ringens var. ringens L.
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Mimulus
 
Species Synonyms: Mimulus minthodes Greene
Mimulus pallidus Salisb.
Mimulus ringens var. congesta Farw.
Mimulus ringens var. minthodes (Greene) A.L. Grant
Common Names: blue monkeyflower
alleghany monkeyflower
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: east-central Saskatchewan – Manitoba – Ontario – Quebec New Brunswick – Nova Scotia
Saskatchewan: east-central Saskatchewan; Red Deer River Valley
Ecoregion: Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Lowland
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: moist, gravelly or rocky river shores
Associated Species: Acer negundo, Eleocharis palustris, Lysimachia thyrsiflora, Ulmus americana
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Threatened
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5 S1
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Mimulus ringens var. ringens is threatened because of rarity in Saskatchewan. It is highly restricted in the province. Possible threats are inferred by occurrences in heavy populated areas, fragile habitats, or areas of possible planned developments.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Growth Habit: 20 – 130 cm
Stems: rhizomes or stolons may be present; perennial, glabrous, ascending to erect, simple or branched, 4-angled, may be narrowly winged
Leaves: opposite, sessile, clasping or auriculate, 2.5 – 8 cm long, 6 – 20 mm wide, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, pinnately nerved
Inflorescence: flowers solitary; pedicels 2 – 3.5 cm long, divergent
Flowers: calyx 10 – 16 mm long, tubular, lobes more or less equal; corolla 2 – 3 cm long, strongly bilabiate, upper lip slightly erect to reflexed, lower lip spreading, blue to lavender; stamens 4, didynamous, included to slightly exserted
Fruits: capsule 10 – 12 mm long, ovoid
 
MIMULUS KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Corolla blue; stems 4-angled
M. ringens var. ringens
1 Corolla yellow; stems terete
2
   
2 Stems mostly creeping; calyx 5 – 12 mm long; corolla throat more or less open; upper leaves wider than long
M. glabratus var. jamesii
2 Stems erect; calyx longer than 12 mm; corolla throat more or less closed; upper leaves longer than wide
M. guttatus