# Allegheny monkeyflower (*Mimulus ringens*) The Allegheny monkeyflower is a cheerful flower that grows near water. It has bright yellow and purple petals that attract butterflies and bees, making it a happy sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Allegheny monkeyflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Monkey_flower_brdgwtr_20080803_3047.JPG&width=800) Photo: Tgnil, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monkey_flower_brdgwtr_20080803_3047.JPG) ## Appearance The Allegheny monkeyflower has striking two-lipped, tubular flowers, typically vibrant purple or blue-violet. Its lower lip often features a yellow throat with small reddish-brown spots, creating a unique 'monkey-face' appearance. This contrasts with its square, often reddish-tinged stems and lance-shaped leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Phrymaceae - **Genus:** Mimulus ## Interesting facts - Its name 'monkeyflower' comes from the bloom's playful face-like shape! - Look closely for tiny red spots inside its throat, guiding bees to sweet nectar! - Some people used to make tea from this plant, but it’s mostly for looking at! - The 'Allegheny' part of its name points to mountains where it's often found! ## Special abilities - **Wet-Feet Wizardry:** Allegheny monkeyflower can grow in super wet soil thanks to roots adapted to oxygen-poor environments, helping it thrive where others can't. - **Pollinator Beacon:** The flower's distinct purple petals and spotted yellow throat act like a landing strip, guiding bees right to its nectar for reproduction. - **Rhizome Racer:** This plant spreads underground using special stems called rhizomes, helping it quickly colonize wet areas and create dense patches for survival. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-100 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its blooms. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers, performing buzz pollination. - **Pollinates:** [Eastern tiger swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding in pollen transfer. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don’t pick flowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Allegheny monkeyflower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Allegheny monkeyflower? 30-100 cm ### How wide does Allegheny monkeyflower spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Allegheny monkeyflower? 2-3 cm ### When does Allegheny monkeyflower bloom? Summer to early fall ### Is Allegheny monkeyflower edible? No ### Is Allegheny monkeyflower toxic? None ### What is Allegheny monkeyflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bloomingdale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloomingdale) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Canal Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canal-park) — District of Columbia, US · Park - [United States National Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/united-states-national-arboretum) — District of Columbia, US · Botanical Garden - [Bayley Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bayley-historic-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Blydenburgh Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blydenburgh-park-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Bradford Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bradford-downtown-historic-district) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic District [View all places to see Allegheny monkeyflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/allegheny-monkeyflower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Allegheny monkeyflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/allegheny-monkeyflower)