Monardella undulata
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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.
Description
Monardella undulata grows as a small shrub up to Template:Cvt across. Its branched stems are Template:Cvt 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, Template:Cvt wide, and vary from straw-colored through lavender to rose-purple.[1]
Subspecies
Subspecies include:
- Monardella undulata subsp. arguelloensis — endemic to Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County.[2]
- Monardella undulata subsp. crispa — endemic to coastal sage scrub habitats of northern Santa Barbara County and southern San Luis Obispo County.[3]
- Monardella undulata subsp. undulata — endemic to coastal sage scrub habitats of northern Santa Barbara and southern San Luis Obispo Counties.[4]
Distribution and habitat
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]
Conservation
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]
References
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- ↑ NPS. (2007). Habitat Assessment of Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly at Point Reyes National Seashore
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External links
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- Monardella
- Endemic flora of California
- Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Natural history of the California Coast Ranges
- Natural history of San Luis Obispo County, California
- Natural history of Santa Barbara County, California
- Butterfly food plants
- Flora without expected TNC conservation status