Diplacus pictus explained

Diplacus pictus is a species of monkeyflower known by the common name calico monkeyflower.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Distribution

The wildflower is endemic to California, found only above the southeastern San Joaquin Valley within Kern County and Tulare County.^[1]

It is known only from the western Tehachapi Mountains and southernmost Sierra Nevada foothills, at elevations of 135m-1250mm (443feet-4,100feetm).^{[1] [5] [6]} It grows in open California oak woodland habitat, in bare rocky soils around granite outcrops.^{[1] [5]}

It is a listed Endangered species on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.^[7]

Description

Diplacus pictus is a small annual herb growing from 2- in height.^[5]

The stem is hairy and rectangular in cross-section. The oppositely arranged leaves are somewhat oval in shape and up to 4.5 centimeters long.

The tubular base of the flower is encapsulated in a dark reddish calyx of sepals with uneven lobes. The five-lobed flower has a maroon throat and the circular face is white with bold and intricately patterned purple-brown veining.^[5] The bloom period varies from March to May.^[5]

External links

• Calflora Database: Mimulus pictus (Calico monkeyflower)
• Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Mimulus pictus
• USDA Plants Profile for Mimulus pictus (calico monkeyflower)
• UC CalPhotos gallery − Mimulus pictus

Notes and References

1. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Mimulus+pictus Calflora: Mimulus pictus
2. Beardsley . P. M.. Yen. Alan . Olmstead . R. G. . 2003 . AFLP Phylogeny of Mimulus Section Erythranthe and the Evolution of Hummingbird Pollination. Evolution . 57 . 6. 1397–1410. 3448862 . 10.1554/02-086. 12894947.
3. Beardsley . P. M. . Olmstead . R. G. . 2002 . Redefining Phrymaceae: the placement of Mimulus, tribe Mimuleae, and Phryma . American Journal of Botany . 89 . 7 . 1093–1102 . 10.3732/ajb.89.7.1093. 4122195 . 21665709.
4. Beardsley . P. M.. Schoenig. Steve E.. Whittall . Justen B. . Olmstead. Richard G. . 2004 . Patterns of Evolution in Western North American Mimulus (Phrymaceae) . American Journal of Botany. 91 . 3. 474–4890. 4123743 . 10.3732/ajb.91.3.474 . 21653403. free.
5. https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/search_icpn.php?tid=33691 Jepson eFlora (TJM2):Mimulus pictus
6. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407035245/http://www.tejonconservancy.org/index_htm_files/Tejon%20Ranch%20Plants%202013-8-1.pdf Tejon Ranch Conservancy: Tejon Ranch Plant Species List, family Phrymaceae species
7. http://www.rareplants.cnps.org/detail/247.html California Native Plant Society, Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02): Mimulus pictus