Both the foliage and flowers of this plant are quite attractive. The common name comes from the fancied resemblance of the flower to a monkey's face when it is squeezed by the fingers. The Mimulus spp. in Illinois are either yellow-flowered or blue- to pink-flowered. In the latter group, there are only two species

This native perennial plant is 1-3' tall, branching frequently to create a bushy appearance. The stems are hairless and 4-angled, but not conspicuously winged. The opposite leaves are up to 4' long and 1' across. They are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, hairless, and serrated along the margins. The base of a leaf is either sessile or somewhat eared (auriculate); if the latter, it clasps the stem. Individual flowers develop from the leaf axils of the upper stems. These flowers are about 1' long, and have two-lipped corollas that are usually blue-violet (less often, pink or white). The upper lip of the corolla has 2 erect lobes, while the lower lip has 3 rounded lobes. The inner surface of the lower lip often has 2 small ridges. The throat of the corolla has a patch of yellow and is barely open because of an abundance of fuzzy hairs. The tubular calyx is green and has 5 long teeth that taper gradually to a point. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer and lasts about 1–1½ months. There is no floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a rounded seed capsule that contains numerous tiny seeds with a reticulated surface. The seeds are dispersed by wind or water. The root system consists of a taproot and rhizomes. This plant can spread vegetatively, but it isn't a strong colonizer.

Monkey Flower is widely distributed throughout most of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It occurs occasionally in the central and northern areas of the state, but is less common in the south. Habitats include floodplain forests (particularly in partially sunny areas), swamps, seeps, muddy borders of small streams or ponds, drainage ditches, and wet meadows. It typically occurs in areas that are prone to occasional flooding or standing water.

Mimulus ringens L.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Monkey Flower is widely distributed throughout most of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It occurs occasionally in the central and northern areas of the state, but is less common in the south. Habitats include floodplain forests (particularly in partially sunny areas), swamps, seeps, muddy borders of small streams or ponds, drainage ditches, and wet meadows. It typically occurs in areas that are prone to occasional flooding or standing water.

Bumblebees visit the flowers for nectar. They are one of the few insects that are strong enough to force their way into the partially closed throat of the corolla. The caterpillars of the moth Elaphria chalcedona (Chalcedony Midget) feed on the foliage. Some authorities state that the caterpillars of the butterfly Euphydryas phaeton (Baltimore) feed on Monkey Flower, but this has not been observed in Illinois to my knowledge. The seeds are too small to be of much value to birds, while little appears to be known about the food value of this plant to mammalian herbivores. The foliage is neither particularly bitter nor known to be toxic.

Mimulus ringens (Monkey Flower)
(bees, butterflies, and skippers suck nectar, Syrphid flies probably feed on pollen, while the wasp either sucks nectar or explores the flowers; the larger long-tongued bees are effective pollinators, while the remaining insects are probably non-pollinating; observations are from Robertson, Mitchell, and Conger)

Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fervida sn fq (Mch), Bombus griseocallis sn (Mch), Bombus impatiens sn (Mch), Bombus pensylvanica sn (Rb, Cng), Bombus vagans sn (Rb); Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla sn np (Cng); Anthophoridae (Xylocopini): Xylocopa virginica sn (Cng); Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile latimanus sn (Cng)

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericea sn np (Cng), Agapostemon splendens sn np (Cng)

Wasps
Sphecidae (Bembicinae): Microbembex monodonta sn/exp np (Cng)

Flies
Syrphidae: Allograpta obliqua fp np (Cng), Eupeodes americanus fp np (Cng), Sphaerophoria contiqua fp np (Cng), Syritta pipiens fp np (Cng)

Butterflies
Papilionidae: Battus philenor sn np (Cng)

Skippers
Hesperiidae: Epargyreus clarus sn np (Cng)

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 6
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

The preference is full or partial sun, rich loamy soil, and wet conditions. This plant will also grow in soil that is consistently moist, particularly in partially shaded situations. The foliage isn't bothered by foliar disease to any significant degree, although it will turn yellow and shrivel away in response to droughty conditions. The size of a plant is strongly influenced by moisture conditions and soil fertility.