# mountain coyote mint

*Monardella odoratissima*

Native American tribes traditionally used the leaves to brew a medicinal tea for treating respiratory ailments and sore throats.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/3d928740-e0cc-413b-aff4-223d5c0460f3
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62678
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monardella odoratissima
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/29894016/medium.jpg (J Brew, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.