Monardella beneolens

Monardella beneolens is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name sweet-smelling monardella.

Monardella beneolens
Conservation status
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Monardella
Species:	M. beneolens
Binomial name
Monardella beneolens Shevock, Ertter & Jokerst

Distribution

Monardella beneolens is endemic to California, where it is known from just a few occurrences in the high peaks of the southern Sierra Nevada. Its habitat includes subalpine mountain forests and alpine rock fields.

Although the plant is rare, it is not likely to experience disturbance or destruction because it lives in such remote habitat.

Description

Monardella beneolens is a hairy, glandular rhizomatous perennial herb growing in a mat or small tuft and producing flowering stems 10 to 30 centimeters long. The long-haired, triangular or oval leaves are under a centimeter long and usually wavy along the edges. The inflorescence is a head of several flowers blooming in a cup of pinkish or pale green bracts. The five-lobed flowers are lavender or pink.

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment - Monardella beneolens
• USDA Plants Profile - Monardella beneolens
• Monardella beneolens - Photo gallery
• Calflora Database: Monardella beneolens (Sweet smelling monardella)
• Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Monardella beneolens
• UC Photos gallery: Monardella beneolens

Further reading

• Shevock, J. R., B. Ertter, and J. D. Jokerst. (1989). Monardella beneolens (Lamiaceae), a new species from the crest of the southern Sierra Nevada, California. Madroño 36:271-79.