[Monkeyflowers: The Genus Erythranthe in the Columbia River
Gorge of Oregon and Washington]
Chickweed Monkeyflower, Chickweed Monkey-flower, Chickweed Monkey Flower, Wing-stem Monkey-flower
Erythranthe alsinoides
Synonyms: Mimulus alsinoides
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The photo at left shows a cluster of chickweed monkey
flowers as seen poking out from beneath talus along the upper Angels Rest Trail
in the Columbia River Gorge.........May 12, 2005. The photo at right shows chickweed monkeyflower in bloom on a basalt road cut above the Crawford Oaks Trailhead, Columbia Hills Historical State Park.....March 24, 2022.
The photo at right shows a close-up of the flower of chickweed monkey flower as
seen along the Angels Rest Trail in the Columbia River Gorge..........May
12, 2005.
Characteristics: Chickweed monkey flower is a petite, annual monkey
flower. Its stems range from simple to freely branched, and arise from 4-30
cm in height. The leaves range from 0.5-2 cm long and are obtuse to rounded
in shape. The margins are lightly to coarsely toothed, and the blade is 3-5
nerved.
The flowers have long pedicels and the calyx
is mostly smooth (occasionally lightly glandular). The 3 upper calyx lobes
are short with sharper points while the 2 lower lobes are longer with rounded
tips. The tubular corolla is yellow, 8-14 mm long, with a large reddish-brown
spot at the base of the lower lip. The corolla is 2-lipped with the middle
lobe of the lower lip larger than the others and flexed downwards.
Habitat:
Chickweed monkey flower may be found on vernally
moist, moss-covered banks and cliffs.
Range:
Chickweed monkey flower may be found from southern
British Columbia south through and west of the Cascade Mts. to northern California.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found
between the elevations of 100'-2400' from east of Troutdale, OR as far east
as Wishram, WA.
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Close-up photos of chickweed monkeyflower as seen along Old Highway 8 below the Labyrinth, mid-Columbia River Gorge..........April 15, 2010. Note the numerous gland-tipped hair on the calyx and leaves and that the lower teeth of the calyx are longer than the upper and lateral teeth.
The photo above shows a close-up
side view of the flower of chickweed monkey flower as seen along the Angels
Rest Trail in the Columbia River Gorge..........May 12, 2005.
Note that the upper tooth of the calyx is roughly the same size and shape as
the others.
The photo above shows a close-up of the upper surface of a
leaf of chickweed monkey flower as seen along
the Angels Rest Trail in the Columbia River Gorge.........May 12,
2005. Note the numerous, minute gland-tipped hairs along the margin of the blade.
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Chickweed monkeyflower as seen (left) on moist, rocky seeps at Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge.........April 9, 2009. The photo at right shows chickweed monkeyflower blooming on moist rock outcrops at the mouth of Rowena Dell between Memaloose and the Tom McCall Nature Preserve.........March 31, 2016.
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Chickweed monkeyflower as seen at left in rock cracks in the road cut at the east tunnel portal for the Twin Tunnels, Mark O. Hatfield Trail, Columbia River Gorge...........April 13, 2014. The photo at right shows chickweed monkeyflower in bloom on moist, rocky ground along Minor Creek (the small creek between Catherine and Major Creeks), Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge......March 25, 2022.
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Chickweed monkeyflower as seen at seeps below old Highway 8 east of Major Creek, Columbia River Gorge......April 6, 2018.
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Early blooming chickweed monkeyflower as seen at left on rock outcrops above the east side of Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge..........March 3, 2015. The photo at right shows chickweed monkeyflower blooming at Catherine Creek........March 23, 2017.
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Chickweed monkeyflower as seen at left on west-facing cliffs at Mitchell Point, several miles west of Hood River, Oregon...........April 19, 2015. The photo at right shows early blooming chickweed monkeyflower as seen on rock outcrops above the east side of Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge..........March 17, 2021.
Paul Slichter