Curly Leaf Monardella

Monardella sinuata

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint)

Flowers — color: lavender, size: 1/2" long, type: lipped

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The violet tubular flower is less than 1/2" long. It has two lips, upper and lower, like others in the sage family. Two violet stamens with spherical anther project from each flower. Fifty or so flowers sprout from a small green hemisphere, producing a 1" cluster.

Habit:
Curly Leaf Monardella is an annual herb. Its main stem is reddish and grows to 6–18 inches, with larger specimens having branches at leaf nodes. The long thin leaves tend to fold along the central vein. The leaf edges undulate up and down, hence 'curlyleaf' and sinuata in the common and scientific names. These leaves attach oppositely to stem or branches.

Several subspecies grow in Santa Barbara County. Curly Leaf Monardella likes to form small, disperse colonies. Open sunny, sandy areas.

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