Mimulus lewisii is more commonly named pink monkey flower. The flowers have a sensitive stigma that close when touched. Mimulus means “little actor.”

Pink monkey flower is often found in subalpine meadows near seep zones, streams, and wet clearings. The perennial grows to 30-70 cm tall. It has sturdy rhizomes and hairy-sticky stems. The flowers are large, pink, and showy.

The flowers have two lips inside the trumpet-shape corolla. Some yellow markings and some “hairs” can be seen on the inside.

There is also an annual version (Brewer’s monkey flower)of the plant that can be spotted in drier mid-level locations near Revelstoke. A yellow (mountain) monkey flower (mimulus tilingii) can be spotted in alpine and wet zones in the southern half of the province. These were spotted in Foundation Creek Valley in the Marble Range.