Mimulus cardinalis (Cardinal monkeyflower)

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Mimulus cardinalis Douglas ex Benth.

Cardinal monkeyflower, scarlet monkeyflower

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Lamiales	Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
Family	Phrymaceae	Lopseed family
Genus	Mimulus	From Greek mimō, “ape” (from the shape of the corolla); historically the genus was “Scrophulariaceae”
Species	cardinalis	Red, possibly referring to the color of the garb worn by cardinals

About plant names...

Occurs almost always under natural conditions in wetlands. It is a favorite of hummingbirds.

Plants: Up to 3′ (91 cm) around, with erect, loosely branched stems covered with long delicate hairs.

Leaves: Pale green, toothed, hairy, obovate, and connate at the base.

Flowers: Single red- to red-orange flowers grow from leaf axils, appearing from Jul-Sep. (Rarely, flowers are yellow.) Flowers are tubular, about 1″ (2.5 cm) long, with a yellow, projecting stamen. They have a narrow upper lip and wider, 3-lobed lower lip that bends back underneath the flower.

Online References:

Www.ventanawild.org

Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and the Plants of the Sonoran Desert

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

DesertUSA: Exploring the Southwest