Monardella

Monardella is a genus of approximately 40 species of annual and perennial plants native to western North America from British Columbia to northwestern Mexico. They are grown for their highly aromatic foliage, which in some species is used for herbal teas. The two-lipped, tubular flowers are formed in terminal clusters and are most usually red, pink, or purple. Monardella is a Latin diminutive form of Monarda (a taxonomic patronym honoring the Spanish botanist Nicolás Monardes), which the form of the flower heads resembles. Plants in this genus are commonly known as wildmints, coyote mints or monardellas. Systematics The genus comprises the following species. Monardella antonina Hardham - California Monardella arizonica Epling - Arizona Monardella australis Abrams - southern California Monardella beneolens Shevock, Ertter & Jokerst - southern California Monardella boydii A.C.Sanders & Elvin - southern California Monardella breweri A.Gray - California, Nevada, Arizona, Baja California Monardella candicans Benth. - San Joaquín Valley of California Monardella douglasii Benth. - San Francisco Bay area of California Monardella eplingii Elvin et al. - Arizona Monardella eremicola A.C.Sanders & Elvin - southern California Monardella exilis (A.Gray) Greene - southern California, Arizona Monardella follettii (Jeps.) Jokerst - northern Sierra Nevada in California Monardella frutescens (Hoover) Jokerst - California Monardella hypoleuca A.Gray - southern California, Baja California Monardella lagunensis M.E.Jones - Baja California Sur Monardella lanceolata A.Gray - California †Monardella leucocephala A.Gray - Merced & Stanislaus counties in California but believed to be extinct Monardella linoides A.Gray - California, Arizona, Nevada, Baja California Monardella macrantha A.Gray - California, Baja California Monardella mojavensis Elvin & A.C.Sanders - Mohave Desert of southeastern California & southern Nevada Monardella nana A.Gray - California, Baja California Monardella odoratissima Benth.