''Erythranthe carsonensis'' is a species of
monkeyflower Monkey flower can refer to:
*Several genera of plant family Phrymaceae, including:
** ''Diplacus''
** ''Erythranthe''
** ''Mimulus''
*Various snapdragon-like Lamiales, including:
** ''Linaria vulgaris''
** ''Phyllocarpus septentrionalis
''Barne ...
known by the common name Carson Valley monkeyflower.
Distribution
The species is native to
Nevada and
California, where its range is restricted to three valleys (
Carson
Carson may refer to:
People
*Carson (surname), people with the surname
*Carson (given name), people with the given name
Places
;In the United States
* Carson, California, a city
* Carson Township, Fayette County, Illinois
*Carson, Iowa, a city
* ...
,
Eagle
Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...
, and
Washoe Valleys) and the surrounding foothills. Its preferred habitat is dry, sandy soils in sagebrush and bitterbrush vegetation.
Description
An annual species, 2 to 10 cm tall, bearing 1 to 20 yellow flowers. The flower is typically 0.5 to 1 inch wide, yellow with yellow hairs and tiny red dots on the palate and a large red dot on the lower limb.
In small plants, the flower is often larger than the leaves and stem.
Sereno Watson first described this species as "A pretty dwarf flower of earliest spring, forming bright patches of color among the sage-brush in the lower valleys, the delicate inch-long stem seeming scarce able to sustain the absurdly disproportionate flowers that terminate it. Carson Valley, Nevada ; April."
Taxonomy
''Erythranthe carsonensis'' was separated from ''
Erythranthe montioides'' in 2012 based on morphological and habitat differences.
References
External links
Nevada Natural Heritage Program taxon pageUSDA Plants ProfilePhoto gallery
{{Taxonbar, from=Q17746444
carsonensis
Flora of California
Flora of Nevada