Species

Erythranthe guttata

Etymology

guttata: From the Latin guttatus 'spotted'

Common Name(s)

monkey musk

Authority

Erythranthe guttata (DC.) G.L.Nesom

Family

Phrymaceae

Brief Description

A robust soft herb forming bright green leafy clumps or large masses. Plants grown up to 60 cm tall on wet/damp ground. The leaves are sparsely hairy (or not) and corrugated between the viens, and may have a short petiole (or not). The yellow flowers are up to 40 mm long and have red spots/blotches inside the throat of the flower.

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

ERYGUT

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Mimulus guttatus DC.

Distribution

Throughout, although uncommon northwards from Hamilton

Habitat

Lowland to montane regions, alongside streams, rivers, lakes, drains and swamps.

Features

Erect perennial herb to 60 cm tall. Rhizomes. Stems thick, stiff, occasionally branched. Leaves opposite, oval, up to 12 x 8 cm, usually hairless, bright green, toothed-edged. Flowers 3 cm diameter, on stalks, yellow with red spots on bearded lower lip, with a long corolla tube, throat closed with five rounded lobes. Seed capsule 1 cm long, 2-valved, with many patterned seeds.

Similar Taxa

Similar in appearance to Erythranthe moschata which is a smaller sticky-hairy perennial and does not have red blotches on its flowers. Also similar to E. lutea var. lutea which has more decumbent stems, a glabrous inflorescence.

Flowering

November to March

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,Yellow

Fruiting

Autumn

Year Naturalised

1878

Origin

W. North America

Reason for Introduction

Ornamental

Control Techniques

Included on the Northland Regional Council pest management strategy. Report if found in Northland. Can be controlled manually, mechanically or herbicidally depending on situation.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Perennial, reproduces from seed and rhizome fragments. Dispersal by water movement and dumped soil.

Tolerances

Tolerant to hot-cold, wind, semi-shade, most soils.

Attribution

Factsheet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA).

References and further reading

 Johnson PN, Brooke PA (1989).  Wetland plants in New Zealand.   DSIR Field Guide, DSIR Publishing, Wellington. 319pp.

Popay et al (2010).  An illustrated guide to common weeds of New Zealand, third edition.  NZ Plant Protection Society Inc, 416pp.;

This page last updated on 21 Aug 2013