monkey flower
monkey flower Lexical Profile
• noun
Any of numerous flowering plants in the family Phrymaceae (formerly broadly classified in the genus Mimulus, now divided into Erythranthe, Diplacus, and others), typically native to North America and characterized by brightly colored, tubular, two-lipped blossoms that superficially resemble a monkey's face.
"While hiking near the damp coastal streams of California, we spotted vibrant yellow monkey flowers growing abundantly in the moist soil."
Word Nuance & Usage
Recent botanical taxonomy has split the traditional genus Mimulus, meaning many native North American monkey flowers are now scientifically classified under the genera Erythranthe and Diplacus.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined because the colorful, lobed, two-lipped blossoms of the plant are said to visually resemble the grinning face of a monkey. This mirrors its traditional genus name, Mimulus, derived from the Latin 'mimus' meaning 'mimic' or 'actor'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.