Is this a Mimulus?

[David Nicholson]

Another lost label plant and try as I may I can't remember buying it! Addled brain Possibly a Mimulus but would welcome some advice.

[Maggi Young]

I don't think it's a Mimulus, David.... a.n. other scrophulariaceae..... I'm thinking more like a Rhinanthus of some kind... with the hooded flower and furry leaves...... sorry I can't  be more useful  
 I think the lower lip is too wide for it to be a simple Rhinanthus minor but perhaps it is that......

PS, this is where Diane tells me that the "Rattles" are now in the Orobanchaceae ! 

[David Nicholson]

Mmmmm. I can see the similarities in the flower Maggi but according to what I have found on Google Rhinanthus minor, or Yellow Rattle, grows to 25-50cm high. My plant is reasonably prostrate and the leaves are glaucous, they see to be green in Rhinanthus minor. I certainly haven't bought a Rhinanthus either?

[Maggi Young]

Well quite, David... your plant is little and furry and too cute to be a simple Rattle in my view..... but I don't know any better.... we need an expert!

[daveyp1970]

David could it be a pedicularis,its a super thing.

[David Nicholson]

Dunno Dave. Just Googled and they appear to be a lot taller than my little plant. I haven't bought a Pedicularis either. Whatever it is I suppose the birds could have brought it but I have to say that it looks planted rather than dropped.

[Afloden]

Scutellaria orientalis, in one of its many forms.

[Maggi Young]

Huurah! I knew we needed an expert!

[daveyp1970]

Huurah! I knew we needed an expert!

i agree maggie,but there's nothing like having ago

[Maggi Young]

Huurah! I knew we needed an expert!

i agree maggie,but there's nothing like having ago

Quite so, Davey, we were showing willing, eh? 

[David Nicholson]

You were both very willing Maggi and Dave, and thank you. Thanks too to Aaron for hitting the nail on the head. I still can't remember buying it but maybe I picked it up from the plant sale at the South West AGS Show, seems very refined for me! Question now is can I expect it to survive our wet winter?

[Lesley Cox]

Some forms have greener leaves, this grey is very nice (harvest any seed David). Usually (here) the leaves are partially deciduous which probably makes it reasonably hardy but being grey it might like a glass over it. It grows magnificently in disturbed gravel at the sides of mountian roads in Greece, flowering in summer but no doubt covered with snow in winter. We saw it on the way to a ski field.

[Maggi Young]

I don't think it's a Mimulus, David.... a.n. other scrophulariaceae..... I'm thinking more like a Rhinanthus of some kind... with the hooded flower and furry leaves...... sorry I can't  be more useful  
 I think the lower lip is too wide for it to be a simple Rhinanthus minor but perhaps it is that......

PS, this is where Diane tells me that the "Rattles" are now in the Orobanchaceae !  

Flippin' heck! I get worse.... just thinking about the Scutellaria ...... it's in LAMIACEAE  isn't it? I give up, my brain cells are obviously giving up the ghost!  

[Lesley Cox]

I've never seen a Rhinanthus except in pictures and didn't know it was also known as a Rattle. Sir Simon Rhinanthus?

[mark smyth]

Can I distract this thread?

Here a lovely Mimulus I saw today. I was told the name but it went in one ear and out the other. It's about 60cm 2 feet high