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monkeyflower

monkeyflower

1 7.4
A plant with bright flowers that look like a monkey's face
  • noun
  • /ˈmʌŋkiˌflaʊər/
: flor mono
  • The vibrant monkeyflower attracted many bees and butterflies in the garden.

Examples

  • In spring, the monkeyflower blooms with bright colors that resemble a monkey's face.

  • I notice that in your letter you did not mention the Lewis monkeyflower.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The monkeyflower is, if I may say so, a lovely specimen.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Pollinator preference and the evolution of floral traits in monkeyflowers (Mimulus).

    Blog text (4)
  • We visited a nature reserve where the rare monkeyflower was in full bloom.

Synonyms

Mimulus
vsmonkeyflower
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A group of flowering plants called monkeyflowers with bright, often spotted blooms

is the common name for bright, face-like flowers found across many regions

Surface Forms

monkeyflower singular
monkeyflowers plural

Morphology

monkeyflower = monkey + flower (semi-transparent) = monkey + flower

Formed from 'monkey' + 'flower' so components are clear, but the specific botanical name (a particular kind of flower, often named for a perceived resemblance) is a specialized usage not fully predictable for all learners.

Etymology

Monkeyflower is a simple picture name made from monkey + flower, because some kinds of this plant have flowers that 'look like a monkey'. So the name helps you remember it is a plant with bright, face-like flowers.