Sticky Monkey Flower

Sticky Monkey Flower
Scientific name: mimulus aurantiacus


     The Sticky Monkey Flower is found mostly by the Californian coast and partially in the Sierra Nevada. Its name comes from the fact that the flower part resembles a monkey's face and it has a gluey substance exuding from it. It's wavy petals are red with yellow in the middle, yellow with white in the middle, cream colored, salmon pink, or brick red. It has long yellow and/or white pistils. It has a smooth stem with long slender dark green leaves and can grow from 6 to 48 inches. The Sticky Monkey Flower's stalks and leaves were eaten as salad, used as a salt substitute, and used to treat skin irritations, minor burns, and rope burns by the Tongva Indians. A root concoction was used for treating epilepsy, and a plant concoction was used as a wash to counteract poisons. The Sticky Monkey Flower is home to the Checkerspot and Buckeye butterfly's larva. They eat the flowers as food and the Checkerspot butterflies lay their eggs on them. Also, in the Spring, baby birds need protein, and so they eat the larva. The Sticky Monkey Flower usually blooms from January through May.

Report by Samantha, Grade