# Lewis' Monkeyflower (*erythranthe lewisii*) Lewis' Monkeyflower is a bright and colorful flower that loves to grow near water. It has unique, trumpet-shaped blooms that attract butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands and riverbanks - **Also known as:** Erythranthe, Lewis' Flower, Monkeyflower ![Lewis' Monkeyflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mimulus_lewisii_21624.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mimulus_lewisii_21624.JPG) ## Appearance The Lewis' Monkeyflower has vibrant pink to magenta, two-lipped flowers that often resemble a monkey's face. Each flower typically features fuzzy yellow ridges and reddish-purple spots or lines on its lower lip. Its unique markings make it stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Phrymaceae - **Genus:** Erythranthe ## Interesting facts - Its seeds are tiny, like dust, and can be carried far away by wind or water! - Its unique two-lipped flower looks just like a grinning monkey's face! - Lewis' Monkeyflower was named after the famous explorer Meriwether Lewis. - The plant loves to grow where cool, clear water flows in mountain streams! ## Special abilities - **Sticky Shield:** Lewis' Monkeyflower has sticky hairs on its stems that can trap tiny insects, helping it defend against being eaten. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Its bright pink petals and yellow throat markings create a clear landing strip, guiding busy bees directly to its nectar and pollen. - **Alpine Survivor:** This plant thrives in chilly, high-altitude mountain environments, showing its beautiful blooms where other plants struggle. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2.5-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumble Bee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Main pollinator, collects nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Western Bumble Bee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Visits flowers for nectar, aiding reproduction. - **Pollinates:** [Rufous Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rufous-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus rufus*) — Feeds on nectar, transferring pollen between flowers. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lewis' 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 Lewis' Monkeyflower? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Lewis' Monkeyflower spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Lewis' Monkeyflower? 2.5-5 cm ### When does Lewis' Monkeyflower bloom? Summer ### Is Lewis' Monkeyflower edible? No ### Is Lewis' Monkeyflower toxic? None ### What is Lewis' Monkeyflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Great Northern Railway Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-northern-railway-buildings) — Montana, US · Historic Site - [Munson Valley Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/munson-valley-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District - [Paradise Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paradise-historic-district) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Swiftcurrent Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/swiftcurrent-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [White River Entrance](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/white-river-entrance) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kokanee-glacier-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Lewis' Monkeyflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/lewis-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: [Lewis' Monkeyflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lewis-monkeyflower)