mountain coyote mint
Monardella odoratissima
Native American tribes traditionally used the leaves to brew a medicinal tea for treating respiratory ailments and sore throats.
- Scientific name
- Monardella odoratissima
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Lamiales › Lamiaceae › Monardella
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Montane forests, rocky slopes, sagebrush scrub, and subalpine ridges.
- Diet
- Autotroph (Photosynthesis)
- Range
- Western United States, British Columbia, Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range
- Size
- 10-50 cm in height
- Lifespan
- 3-7 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, climate-induced drought, and competition from invasive weeds.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and highly aromatic. You may gently rub a leaf to experience the scent, but do not uproot the plant. It is safe to touch, though avoid ingestion if you have plant allergies.
Monardella odoratissima ( mountain coyote mint , mountain beebalm , mountain monardella or mountain pennyroyal ) is a perennial flowering plant which grows in mountain forests and sagebrush scrub. It is a member of the Lamiaceae, or mint family. It has the minty odor characteristic of this family.
Photo: J Brew, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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