Sorting out a taxonomic mess: Mimulus montioides (Phrymaceae)one species or five?

Naomi S. FragaRancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont Graduate UniversityMimulus montioides

Mimulus (monkeyflowers) Phrymaceae (Scrophulariaceae) ca. 90-150 species 75% occur in North America (67 species in CA)

Mimulus fremontii

Mimulus nanusPhryma leptostachyamissouriplants.com

Mimulus (monkeyflowers) Primarily annuals and herbaceous perennials Floral variation Wide range of habitatsMimulus cardinalis

Mimulus androsaceusMimulus aurantiacus

Mimulus palmeriOverviewMinute annual herbs Subgenus MimulusSection ParadanthusTaxonomic confusion (7-12)Montane/desert transitionSeveral species with narrow distributionsThe Mimulus palmeri clade

Beardsley et al. 2004Subgenus Mimulus

Combined MP analysis trnL-F ITS ETS

Mimulus palmeri clade M. androsaceusM. shevockiiM. purpureusM. palmeri M. gracilipes M. suksdorfiiM. montioidesM. montioides [M. barbatus] 100%100%47%100%100%63%48%Beardsley et al. 2004

Combined MP analysis trnL-F ITS ETS

Mimulus palmeri clade M. androsaceusM. shevockiiM. purpureusM. palmeri M. gracilipes M. suksdorfiiM. montioidesM. montioides [M. barbatus] 100%100%47%100%100%63%48%Beardsley et al. 2004

Combined MP analysis trnL-F ITS ETS

Mimulus palmeri cladeM. androsaceusM. barbatusM. diffususM. discolor M. gracilipesM. montioidesslender stalkedmonkeyflowerM. palmeriM. purpureusM. shevockiiM. suksdorfiiM. ignotusM. calcicolus

Mimulus palmeri cladeM. androsaceusM. barbatusM. diffususM. discolor M. gracilipesM. montioidesM. palmeriM. purpureusM. shevockiiM. suksdorfiiSampled by BeardsleyM. ignotusM. calcicolus

Mimulus palmeri cladeM. androsaceusM. barbatusM. diffususM. discolor M. gracilipesM. montioidesM. palmeriM. purpureusM. shevockiiM. suksdorfiiM. calcicolusMimulus montioides species complexM. ignotus

Mimulus palmeri cladeCurrent Treatment in TJM (1993)

Currently recognized taxaSynonymMimulus androsaceousMimulus palmeri var. androsaceousMimulus gracillipesnoneMimulus montioidesM. barbatus, M. deflexus, M. discolor, M. rubellus var. latiflorus, M. calcicolus, M. ignotusMimulus palmeriM. diffususMimulus purpureusnoneMimulus shevockiinoneMimulus suksdorfiinone

Mimulus palmeri cladeCurrent Treatment in TJM (1993)

Currently recognized taxaSynonymMimulus androsaceousMimulus palmeri var. androsaceousMimulus gracillipesnoneMimulus montioidesM. barbatus, M. deflexus, M. discolor, M. rubellus var. latiflorus, M. calcicolus, M. ignotusMimulus palmeriM. diffususMimulus purpureusnoneMimulus shevockiinoneMimulus suksdorfiinone

Mimulus palmeri cladePrevious WorkE.L. Greene (1885) 3 species in Studies in the Botany of California and Parts AdjacentA. Gray (1886) 4 species in Synoptic Flora of North AmericaA.L. Grant (1925), F.W. Pennell (1951), P.A. Munz (1968) 9 species in Monograph of MimulusD.M. Thompson (1993) 7 species The Jepson ManualN.S. Fraga (Unpublished) 12 species Unpublished

Species Protologue (A. Gray 1868)Mimulus montioides

Mimulus montioides

OverviewFive syntypesBrewer 1864 High Sierra, Tulare County, CAAnderson 1865, Carson City, NevadaTorrey, Empire City, NevadaBolander, Mono Pass, CaliforniaParry 1864, Middle Park, COMimulus suksdorfii (1886)

Mimulus montioides

OverviewFive syntypesBrewer 1864 High Sierra, Tulare County, CAAnderson 1865, Carson City, NevadaTorrey, Empire City, NevadaBolander, Mono Pass, CaliforniaParry 1864, Middle Park, COMimulus suksdorfii (1886)

Mimulus montioides

OverviewFive syntypesBrewer 1864 High Sierra, Tulare County, CAAnderson 1865, Carson City, NevadaTorrey, Empire City, NevadaBolander, Mono Pass, CaliforniaParry 1864, Middle Park, COMimulus suksdorfii (1886)Lectotype

Herbarium specimens

slender stalkedmonkeyflowerMimulus discolorMimulus montioidesMimulus barbatus

slender stalkedmonkeyflowerMimulus ignotus ined.Short nodes, spatulate leaves, striate on adaxial surface of corolla Mimulus barbatus GreeneUpper corolla lobe reflexed, tube (3-4) 5-8mm long, pedicles spreading at maturity, flower color varies.Mimulus montioides A. GrayCorolla lobes entire, no markings on adaxial surface, beardlessMimulus calcicolus ined.Ovate leaves, stalked glands, flower color varies, tube/throat short and wide, flowers last one day

Mimulus discolor A.L. GrantFlower color varies,yellow form has red pigment on adaxial surface of floral tube/throat, lacks a beard

Mimulus ignotusMimulus montioidesMimulus barbatusMimulus calcicolusMimulus discolor

Mimulus montioides Published 1868 A. Gray Sparsely hairy and nearly entire corolla lobes High central Sierra Nevada Elevation 6,800-9,500 ft Understory of lodgepole pine forest Dry granitic sandOverviewMimulus montioides

Mimulus barbatus Published 1884 (M. deflexus 1889) Long floral tube, upper lip reflexed, bicolored or all yellow. Eastern Sierra, Kern Plateau Elevation 6,000-11,000 ft. Montane meadow and stream edges Moist granitic sand, or frost heaved loamy soilOverviewMimulus barbatus

Mimulus discolor Published 1924 A.L. Grant Pink and yellow color morphs, red on adaxial surface of floral tube Southern Sierra, Kern County Elevation 4,000-6,400 ft Jeffrey pine to desert chaparral Vernally moist granitic sand along stream beds and seepsOverviewMimulus discolor

Mimulus calcicolus Discovered in the herbarium Thick ribbed calyx, densely glandular Death Valley NP, W. Nevada Pinyon Juniper to Creosote Bush Scrub Elevation 3,600- 6800 ft Carbonate substratesOverviewMimulus calcicolus

Mimulus ignotus Listed as a syntype for M. montioides Large nectar guides, red stripes 10 historic locations (2 known extant) Elevation 4,900-5,500 ft Flats dominated by sagebrush or bitterbrush Sandy decomposed granitic soilOverviewMimulus ignotus

slender stalkedmonkeyflowerConservation Implications

Cryptic species in Mimulus Potentially many more undescribed species in Mimulus Conservation implications Annuals that primarily differ in floral features require careful field work Photography Microhabitat characterizationSummaryMimulus purpureus

Future Directions Examine type specimens G, MO, ND, US Morphometric study Improved resolution of relationships ITS, CYCLOIDEA, rpl32-trnL, trnQ5-rps16, 3rpS16-5trnk Study reproductive biology Pollinators, UV photography, floral pigments, nectar properties Genetic diversity to characterize breeding systemOverviewMimulus shevockii

Thank you!CommitteeElizabeth FriarLucinda McDadeJ. Mark Porter

AssistanceSteve BoydDaniel BrockDuncan BellJoanna ClinesShelley EllisLeRoy GrossGenie FragaElizabeth KemptonShawn KrosnickSteve MatsonJim MorefieldJerry MumfordLinda PrinceMichelle SlatonAlison SheeheyMimulus montioidesSteve ScheonigTim ThomasMichael WallDana York

FundingCNPS BristleconeCNPS SacramentoCalifornia Desert Research FundRancho Santa Ana Botanic GardenGoldhamer Scholarship AwardTorrey Botanical Society

HerbariaRSA-POMCAS/DSUC/JEPSRENOSBBG SDUNLV

Mimulus palmeri cladePrevious Work

AuthorPublication# of Species RecognizedE.L. GreeneStudies in the Botany of California (1885)3GraySynoptic Flora of North America (1886)4A.L. GrantA Monograph of the Genus Mimulus (1924)9Pennell, MunzIFPS (1951), A California Flora (1968)9D.M. ThompsonThe Jepson Manual Treatment (1993) 7N.S. FragaUnpublished data12