INFLORESCENCE: bracts lanceolate to linear lanceolate, gradually acuminate to spinose bristle, not more than 4 mm wide, strongly reflexed from base.

NOTES: See also parent taxon. Oak woodland, chaparral, ponderosa pine, pinyon juniper: Apache, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Navajo, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yavapai cos.; 900 2950 m (3000 9600 ft); Jul Oct; NM s to Sin. and Dgo., Mex.

REFERENCES: Henry, April M. 2003. Lamiaceae. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Volume 35(2).

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Fragrant annual herb, branching from the base or inflorescence, 25-70 cm tall.

Leaves: Lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 25-70 mm long, 4-15 mm wide, puberulent with serrate to nearly entire margins, on petioles 4-20 mm long.

Flowers: Crowded in dense but interrupted, axillary or terminal spikes of 3-6 verticils, these subtended by leafy, toothed bracts lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, not more than 4 mm wide, the calyx tubular with small teeth 8-10 mm long, the orifice bearded, the corolla white to rarely purplish 8-12 mm long, trumpet-shaped with a narrow throat, the upper lip helmet-shaped, arched, or straight, stamens inserted or only slightly exserted.

Fruits: Nutlets smooth, oblong.

Ecology: Found on mesas and slopes from 4,000-8,500 ft (1219-2519 m); flowering July-October.

Distribution: Ranges from New Mexico and Arizona south to Durango and Sinaloa, Mexico.

Notes: Look for this species also under M. austromontana. This lovely plant looks somewhat similar to an Agastache, but is distinguished among the Monarda by the reflexed bracts that are slightly ciliate on the margins. In the region that are two subspecies but ours are generally subsp. austromontana.

Etymology: Monarda is named after Nicholas Bautista Monardes (1493-1588), a Spanish physician and botanist , while fistulosa means hollow or tubular, usually referring to the stalks, and menthifolia means with leaves like those of genus Mentha.

Synonyms: None

Editor: SBuckley 2011