From Greek mimō, “ape” (from the shape of the corolla); historically the genus was “Scrophulariaceae”
Species
bigelovii
Named for Dr. John Milton Bigelow (1804-1878), a professor of botany at Detroit Medical College, who collected in the West under Whipple (see whipplei) in the Pacific Railroad Survey of 1853-1854
Bigelow's monkeyflower is native to southwestern North America. It is found in dry, gravelly
habitats.
Identification: Plants are 2-10″ (5-25 cm) high, with hairy
stems and leaves. Leaves are oval-shaped, with sharp tips, 1-1½″ (2.5-3.8 cm) long. Flowers are tubular, pink, with two lips, and a pale yellow center with dark purple-rose spots. They are about ¾″ (2 cm) in diameter, with
five petals, and bloom
from March to June.
Photo of Mimulus bigelovii (Bigelow's monkeyflower) in Red Rock Canyon, Nevada, taken April 2005 by Stan Shebs.