# seep monkeyflower (*Erythranthe guttata*) The seep monkeyflower is a pretty flower that loves to grow near water. Its bright yellow and orange blooms attract butterflies and bees, making it a happy spot for nature lovers! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![seep monkeyflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Erythranthe_guttata_or_Mimulus%252C_the_Monkey_Flower.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erythranthe_guttata_or_Mimulus%252C_the_Monkey_Flower.jpg) ## Appearance The seep monkeyflower has bright yellow, tubular flowers with prominent red or maroon spots, resembling a grinning face. Its smooth stems grow upright, often in clusters, from green, oval leaves, creating a vibrant display. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Phrymaceae - **Genus:** Erythranthe ## Interesting facts - If you touch its stigma, it can snap shut in seconds to catch pollen from visiting insects! - Its scientific name, 'guttata,' means 'spotted,' just like its flowers! - Some people use its peppery-tasting leaves to add a unique kick to salads! - The flower's shape looks a bit like a monkey's face, giving it its fun common name! ## Special abilities - **Hydro-Hero:** Seep monkeyflower can grow even when its roots are underwater, thanks to special adaptations helping it breathe in soggy soil. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Seep monkeyflower has vibrant red spots inside its petals that act like a runway, guiding bees straight to its nectar. - **Floaty Seeds:** Seep monkeyflower produces tiny seeds that can float on water, allowing new plants to sprout far downstream from the parent. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-80 cm - **Spread:** 20-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction - **Pollinates:** Black-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus melanopygus*) — efficiently transfers pollen between flowers - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — leaves and stems may be browsed by hungry deer ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. They are important for nature! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify seep 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 seep monkeyflower? 10-80 cm ### How wide does seep monkeyflower spread? 20-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on seep monkeyflower? 2-4 cm ### When does seep monkeyflower bloom? Late Spring to Fall ### Is seep monkeyflower edible? Yes ### Is seep monkeyflower toxic? None ### What is seep monkeyflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Nevada City Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nevada-city-downtown-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Point Reyes National Seashore](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-reyes-national-seashore) — California, US · National Park - [Jungleland USA](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jungleland-usa) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see seep monkeyflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/seep-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: [Seep Monkeyflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/seep-monkeyflower)