Monardella undulata
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| Species: | M. undulata
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| Binomial name | |
| Monardella undulata | |
Monardella undulata is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name curlyleaf monardella.
Distribution
It is endemic to the coast of California from Sonoma to Santa Barbara Counties, where it is known from several coastal habitat types, including dunes, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and forest. [1]
Description
Monardella undulata is a mostly hairless annual herb producing an erect, reddish stem up to 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) in height, and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) in diameter. The fleshy, wavy-edged leaves are located in clusters along the stem. [2]
The inflorescence is a head of several flowers blooming in a small cup of rough-haired, sometimes purple-tinged bracts up to 3 centimeters wide. The flowers are purple in color and up to 2 centimeters long. [2]
Subspecies
Subspecies include:
- Monardella undulata ssp. arguelloensis — endemic to Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County.[3]
- Monardella undulata ssp. crispa — endemic to coastal sage scrub habitats of northern Santa Barbara County and southern San Luis Obispo County. [4]
- Monardella undulata ssp. undulata — endemic to coastal sage scrub habitats of northern Santa Barbara and southern San Luis Obispo Counties. [5]
Conservation
The plant is threatened by forces that degrade its coastline habitat, such as sand mining and competing introduced plant species.
This species is an important food plant for the endangered Myrtle's silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene myrtleae), which eats its nectar.[6]
References
- ^ Calflora: Monardella undulata
- ^ a b Jepson: Monardella undulata
- ^ Calflora: Monardella undulata ssp. arguelloensis
- ^ Calflora: Monardella undulata ssp. crispa
- ^ Calflora: Monardella undulata ssp. undulata
- ^ NPS. (2007). Habitat Assessment of Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly at Point Reyes National Seashore
External links
- Calflora Database: Monardella undulata (Curly leaved monardella)
- Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Monardella undulata
- USDA Plants Profile for Monardella undulata
- UC Photos gallery: Monardella undulata
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