July 2022 • Nebraskaland 47
and upright growth form.
Nebraska's two blue- to purple-fl owered Mimulus are
sharp-wing monkey-fl ower (M. alatus), which inhabits
streambanks and seeps in our far southeastern woodlands,
and Allegheny monkey-fl ower (M. ringens), a common plant
of eastern and northern Nebraska streambanks, seeps, low
woodlands, sandbars and wetland fringes. These two robust,
colony-formers are similar in general appearance, but are
easily distinguished by sharp-wing's stalked leaves compared
to Allegheny's stalk-less leaves.
Native Americans once used monkey-fl owers as food and
medicine. Several tribes ate the stems and leaves of our yellow-
fl owered species fresh and boiled. The Shoshoni applied the
crushed leaves of common monkey-fl ower to soothe wounds
and rope burns. The Iroquois made a decoction of Allegheny
monkey-fl ower roots as a wash to counteract poisons.
Today, wildfl ower enthusiasts are less familiar with the
monkey-fl owers, as well as other wetland wildfl owers, than
they are with prairie and woodland wildfl owers. This could
be because they rarely venture to areas where their feet
might get wet. But now that you are familiar with monkey-
fl owers, perhaps it is time to seek them out. Do not worry:
Your shoes will dry.
N
Allegheny monkey-fl ower growing on an Elkhorn River
sandbar in Antelope County.
An Escaped Monkey-fl ower
In the early 19th century, common monkey-flower
from North America was introduced to Europe,
where it escaped from water gardens into the wild.
Without the checks of its North American pests
and diseases, it ran rampant in areas of soggy soils,
displacing native plants. Plainly, Americans are
not the only ones that introduce non-native plants
that lead to ecological and, sometimes, economic
boondoggle.
Sadly, we continue these introductions for various
and often dubious reasons: as "beautiful and
hardy" landscaping flowers and shrubs; protein-
and mineral-rich legumes "guaranteed to grow
trophy bucks"; or gigantic grasses to produce
"environmentally-friendly" ethanol. Almost always,
native plants can fill these same roles.
While the promoters of these non-natives hope
to line their pockets, it is poor Mother Nature who
suffers, as well as the landowners and county
governments who spend millions attempting to
eradicate these invaders from roadsides, pastures,
woodlands, wetlands and crop fields. When will we
learn?
Common monkey-fl ower illustrated by Mary Morris
Vaux Walcott (1860-1940). She was an American
artist and naturalist known for her watercolor
paintings of wildfl owers. She has been called the
"Audubon of Botany."
