Mimulus guttatus

Erythranthe guttata (Phrynaceae), formerly Mimulus guttatus, is a variable annual or perennial wildflower native to western North America from sea level to 12,000 feet elevation. It grows along stream banks and seeps, producing bright yellow, snapdragon-like flowers with red spots in the throat. Both annual and perennial forms occur, with considerable variation in size and habit across its range.

Common yellow monkeyflower colonizes wet, sunny to partly shaded habitats. The leaves are edible raw or cooked, with a slightly bitter flavor. The species has become an important model organism for evolutionary and ecological research due to its wide range of forms and habitats. It is occasionally available from native plant nurseries for rain gardens, stream-side plantings, and other wet sites.