Monkeyflowe rs (the genus Mimulus) are favorites of botanists, amateur naturalists, and native gardeners alike. They include annuals, perennials and sub-shrubs, m any of which are very showy and beautiful. California is the center of Mimu lus biodiversity in the world, since more than 90 of the 150 worldwide spec ies occur here. Members of the genus exhibit adaptations, endemism and dist ributions that reflect the most interesting themes of California botany, su ch as fire-following, serpentine and other geological endemism, vernal pool s, pollination, hybridization and large within-species variability.< /p>
Steve Schoenig is currently the CNPS Rare Plant Treasure Hunt Botanis t. He has a 30 year long interest in native California plants with a specia l focus on the monkeyflower genus Mimulus and endemic plants of the three C alifornia deserts.