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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE FIGWORT FAMILY | |||||||||
| The figwort family is very common in Saskatchewan. The leaves are usually opposite, though they may be alternate, whorled, or all basal. The leaf margin may be entire to pinnately or palmately lobed. The flowers are irregular and are commonly 2-lipped. The upper lip usually has two lobes and the lower lip three lobes. Each flower has two or four stamens. If four stamens are present, they are in two groups of two and are usually attached to the petals. The sepals and the petals are commonly fused together. In some species, large, brightly-coloured bracts hide the flowers. The fruit is a many-seeded capsule. | |||||||||
| BLUE MONKEYFLOWER | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Mimulus ringens var. ringens | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Blue monkeyflower grows as tall as 130 cm. This perennial plant may have rhizomes or runners. The stem is erect and square. The leaves are opposite and some may be clasping or have ear-like lobes at the base. The flowers are solitary and are on stalks up to 3.5 cm long. The petals are blue to lavender in colour and are strongly 2-lipped. The upper lip is slightly erect to reflexed and the lower lip is spreading. There are four stamens in two groups of two. The fruit is a capsule. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Blue monkeyflower is found on moist, gravelly or rocky river shores. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This plant is found in east-central Saskatchewan in the Boreal Transition and Mid-Boreal Lowland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Blue monkeyflower 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. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY BLUE MONKEYFLOWER | |||||||||
| * Are the leaves opposite? * Are the flowers blue to lavender? * Are the stems erect? * Did you find it in east-central Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found blue monkeyflower! | |||||||||
