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Monardella arizonica - Arizona monardella

Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6 to 14 inches
Riparian
No

Small, opposite, lance-like leaves are lightly flattened and form a v-shape; stems square, grayish-green to yellowish-brown, herbaceous stems (made up of cellulose) or woody; small rounded flower clusters.

Subshrub, stems grayish-green to yellowish-brown, square, maybe woody; leaves lance-like, opposite, lightly pressed to stems, leaf pairs form v-shape; flowers small, in round clusters, pale pink or white, purple spotted, 2-lipped, tubular, slightly hairy.

Habitat

Found on rocky ledges and canyon bottoms in desert scrub and chaparral communities.

Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
4000

Flower Characteristics

Pale pink or white with purple spots; 2-lipped with tubular throats; each flower very small in clusters in rounded heads; corollas 1/2 to 3/4 inch long; fine soft hairs on surface, calyx half the length of the corolla; flowers at the end of branch stem.

Flower color
Pale pink, white, purple spots
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaves opposite to whorled; lance-like, 1/16 inch long and 1/2 inch wide; margins smooth; moderate to dense soft hairs on surface; blades with noticeable, light green veins beneath; leaves tend to reduce in size from the mid-stems to the tips.

Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf attachment
Opposite
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Oval to oblong; to 1/16 inch long; surfaces brown or tan with black spots.

Fruit type
Nutlet
Fruit color
Brown or yellowish-brown

Very small.