In flower just now is a plant of the Californian chaparral; a shrub land plant community evolving through mild wet winters and hot dry summers. These areas are prone to wildfires and Mimulus aurantiacus is one of this community of plants which grows rapidly following a fire. A sub-shrub , the stems and foliage are covered in minute glutinous hairs which give the plant a sticky feel and catch wind-blown seeds. These plants flower continually through the summer months, new growth producing terminal flower buds in variable shades of yellow. The anthers are submerged in the corolla, fused as twins; one twin sitting below the other, the style is white. It will be interesting to see if it survives our winter.

Mimulus aurantiacus

Mimulus aurantiacus