- Monardella
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Monardella Monardella hypoleuca ssp. lanata Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Monardella
L.Species Several, see text.
Monardella is a genus of 28 species of annual and perennial plants native to western North America. They are grown for their highly aromatic foliage, which in some species is used for herbal teas. The 2-lipped, tubular flowers are formed in terminal clusters and are most usually red, pink, or purple in color.
Plants in this genus are commonly known as wildmints, coyote mints or monardellas.
Contents
Selected species
- Monardella antonina
- Monardella arizonica
- Monardella australis
- Monardella beneolens
- Monardella breweri
- Monardella candicans
- Monardella cinerea
- Monardella crispa – Crisp Monardella
- Monardella douglasii
- Monardella follettii
- Monardella frutescens
- Monardella glauca
- Monardella hypoleuca
- Monardella lanceolata – Mustang Mint
- Monardella linoides
- Monardella macrantha
- Monardella nana
- Monardella odoratissima – Mountain Wildmint, Mountain Coyote Mint or Mountain Pennyroyal
- Monardella palmeri
- Monardella purpurea
- Monardella robisonii
- Monardella sheltonii
- Monardella siskiyouensis
- Monardella stebbinsii
- Monardella stoneana
- Monardella thymifolia
- Monardella undulata
- Monardella villosa – (Common) Coyote Mint
- Monardella viridis
Horticulture and ecology
Most like a sunny, sharply drained site and can be attractive in a rock garden or pot in the alpine house if smaller species are selected. The taller ones can be used at the front of a dry sunny border. They have reasonable frost resistance, but resent dampness in winter. Propagate from seed or summer cuttings of perennial species, or by division of clumps.
Monardella is a foodplant for some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) caterpillars. These include the Endangered Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene myrtleae).
Several species are rare California endemics; two, the Merced Monardella (M. leucocephala) and Pringle's Monardella (M. pringlei), have not been seen in many decades and are presumed extinct.[1][2]
References
External links
Categories:- Monardella
- Lamiaceae
- Lamiaceae stubs
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