LEWIS MONKEYFLOWER 
Mimulus lewistt Pursh 
In the neighborhood of Glacier, British Columbia, whete I first saw 
this striking monkeyflower, it grew luxuriantly. Along the streams 
about timberline it found the habitat most suited to it, for although it 
never grew in water, it needed the cool drippings from melting snows 
higher up the slopes to sustain its lush growth. The large richly 
colored flowers were in pleasing contrast with the green leaves. I 
never found the plant in the Rockies east of the Columbia River 
The specific name was given in honor of Metiwether Lewis of the 
celebrated Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Northwest. Although 
dissimilar in aspect, the monkeyflowets belong to the same family as 
the elephanthead, shown in the preceding plate—namely, the Fig- 
wott family. : 
Lewis monkeyflower is found from Colorado to Arizona, Califor- 
nia, and British Columbia and locally eastwatd to Minnesota. 
These specimens were gathered at an altitude of 3,500 feet. 
PLATE 374 
