Tiny yellow flower on cliff near waterfall

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by V.I. Visitor, May 7, 2005.

  1. Can anyone identify the following flower, seen on a cliff ledge near a waterfall on Vancouver Island a couple days ago. Sorry but no picture, so words and memory will have to do. Excuse my inaccurate use of terms -- it has been many years since I took a botany course.

    Flower single on end of ~5 cm stem, above tiny leaves ( 0.2 - 0.5 cm?) on or just above ground level.

    Very small (0.5 - 1 cm?) five-petalled, star-shaped yellow flower, tip of star pointing downward.

    Down-pointing petal slightly larger than the other four.

    Of the dozen or so flowers in the area, some were yellow throughout, some had red (crimson, really) dots on the lowest petal, and one had a perfect heart-shaped dot(!) on the lowest petal and a single red line on each of the top two petals.

    If memory serves, two stamens just protruded from the top of a 'well' in the center of the flower, along the bases of the top two petals.

    Any ideas on what this beautiful flower could be?

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    I'll take a guess: Mimulus alsinoides (chickweed monkey-flower)?

    This species is found in the habitat you describe...
     
  3. Thank you. That's it!
     

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