Lewis's Monkeyflower (Mimulus lewisii)
Also Known As: Purple Monkeyflower, Great Purple Monkeyflower
Formerly Classified As: Mimulus lewisii
Family: Snapdragon (Scrophulariaceae)
Popular Anagrams: "Weenies Fry Wok Molls"; "Owl Swim, Kerosene Fly"
Habitat: Moist areas at elevations from 4,000 - 8,000 feet (1,200 - 2,400 meters). I've seen it on trails along both the Tioga and Glacier Point roads.
Flowering Season: June - September
Size: The plant grows one to three feet high. The flowers are big and flashy, often a couple inches across. You won't walk past a blooming Lewis's Monkeyflower without noticing it.
Lifespan: Perennial
Origins: Native to California (see distribution maps for California and U.S./Canada)
Mimulus lewisii etymology: Mimulus derives from the Greek word for mime, because some members of the genus are said to resemble faces. Lewisii is homage to Meriwether Lewis (1774 - 1809) of the Lewis & Clark expedition.
This Photo: Along the Sunrise Lakes trail, late July
Other Resources: CalFlora · CalPhotos · USDA · US Forest Service
