Monardella undulata | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Monardella |
Species: | M. undulata |
Binomial name | |
Monardella undulata | |
Monardella undulata is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name curlyleaf monardella. It is an annual herb and is endemic to the coast of California.
Monardella undulata grows as a small shrub up to 2.5 m (8 ft) across. Its branched stems are 10–100 cm (4 in – 3 ft 3 in) long, and vary from sparsely hairy to being covered with dense, matted, woolly hairs giving a white appearance (tomentose). Its leaves may be fleshy and are located in clusters along the stem. The flowers are strongly scented, arranged in terminal spikes, 10–30 mm (0.4–1.2 in) wide, and vary from straw-colored through lavender to rose-purple. [1]
Subspecies include:
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. [5]
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]
Coastal sage scrub, also known as coastal scrub, CSS, or soft chaparral, is a low scrubland plant community of the California coastal sage and chaparral subecoregion, found in coastal California and northwestern coastal Baja California. It is within the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.
Monardella is a genus of approximately 40 species of annual and perennial plants native to western North America from British Columbia to northwestern Mexico. They are grown for their highly aromatic foliage, which in some species is used for herbal teas. The two-lipped, tubular flowers are formed in terminal clusters and are most usually red, pink, or purple.
Baccharis pilularis, called coyote brush, chaparral broom, and bush baccharis, is a shrub in the family Asteraceae native to California, Oregon, Washington, and Baja California. There are reports of isolated populations in New Mexico, most likely introduced.
Myrtle's silverspot is a medium-sized butterfly in the brush foot family (Nymphalidae), an endangered subspecies of the zerene fritillary. It is endemic to California, where it is known from only about four locations just north of the San Francisco Bay Area, including two at Point Reyes National Seashore. Its wingspan is approximately 2.2 inches (56 mm). The upper surfaces of the wings are golden brown with numerous black spots and lines. The undersides are brown, orange and tan with black lines and silver and black spots. Larvae are dark colored with many sharp branching spines on their backs. Myrtle's silverspot is larger and paler than the closely related Behrens' silverspot, which is now limited to the vicinity of Point Arena in Mendocino County. Myrtle's silverspot is also closely related to the Oregon silverspot.
Monardella villosa is a plant in the mint family which is known by the common name coyote mint. In 2020, it was included in Monardella odoratissima. As of April 2024, acceptance of the inclusion varies.
Arctostaphylos tomentosa is a species of manzanita known by the common name woollyleaf manzanita or woolley manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California.
Arctostaphylos glandulosa, with the common name Eastwood's manzanita, is a species of manzanita.
Eriogonum giganteum, with the common name St. Catherine's lace, is a species of wild buckwheat in Southern California.
Galium californicum is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the common name California bedstraw.
Arctostaphylos luciana is a species of manzanita known by the common name Santa Lucia manzanita, is endemic to California.
Dudleya abramsii is a species complex of succulent plants native to California and parts of Baja California. There are numerous subspecies, some critically endangered, with varying habits and lifestyles, but most often characterized by a smaller size, yellow flowers, and an affinity for rocky habitats. The subspecies may be polyphyletic.
Leptosiphon pygmaeus is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name pygmy linanthus.
Monardella odoratissima subsp. villosa, many synonyms including Monardella antonina and Monardella villosa subsp. villosa, is subspecies of flowering plant in the mint family. When treated as the species Monardella antonina, it is known by the common name San Antonio Hills monardella. It is endemic to northern and central California.
Monardella australis is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, known by the common name southern monardella.
Monardella undulata subsp. crispa, synonym Monardella crispa is a rare subspecies of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name crisp monardella. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the sand dunes on the coastline of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
Monardella undulata subsp. undulata, synonym Monardella frutescens, is a rare subspecies of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name San Luis Obispo monardella.
Monardella hypoleuca is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, known by the common names thickleaf monardella and white leaf monardella.
Orobanche californica, known by the common name California broomrape, is a species of broomrape. It is a parasitic plant growing attached to the roots of other plants, usually members of the Asteraceae.
Deinandra increscens is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name grassland tarweed. It is endemic to California, where it has been found primarily in Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. A few isolated populations have been reported from Kern and Merced Counties, but these are from urban areas and probably represent cultivated specimens.
Monardella viminea is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name willowy monardella.