6. Monarda pectinata Nutt. (spotted beebalm, plains beebalm)

Pl. 438 a, b; Map 1972

Plants annual. Stems 15–40 cm long, usually branched, moderately to densely pubescent with minute, downward-curved hairs. Leaves usually short-petiolate, the petioles 2–15 mm long, the median leaves the largest. Leaf blades 1–5 cm long, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, angled or tapered at the base, tapered to a bluntly or sharply pointed tip (this lacking a bristlelike extension of the midvein), the margins with moderately to widely spaced, fine teeth or nearly entire, also minutely hairy (sometimes with longer, bristly hairs toward the base), the upper surface glabrous or sparsely pubescent with minute, curved hairs, the undersurface glabrous or more commonly sparsely to moderately pubescent with minute, curled hairs. Inflorescences consisting of (1)2–6 flower clusters forming an interrupted terminal spike (some of the lower clusters sometimes associated with relatively large bracteal leaves and thus appearing axillary), the bracts 8–15 mm long, lanceolate to elliptic or narrowly ovate, gradually narrowed or tapered to a bristlelike extension of the midvein at the tip, the margins entire or finely toothed toward the tip, hairy, the upper surface glabrous or nearly so, green or mostly greenish (rarely pinkish-tinged), the undersurface sparsely to moderately and minutely hairy. Innermost bracts 3–8 mm long, linear, the margins hairy. Calyces 8–12 mm long, the outer surface moderately to densely pubescent with minute, curled hairs, densely bristly-hairy in the throat, the lobes 2.0–3.5 mm long, narrowly triangular, angled or tapered to a prominent, bristlelike extension of the midnerve. Corollas 12–20 mm long, white or more commonly pinkish-tinged to pink or purplish pink, the lower lip often with purple spots or lines, sparsely pubescent with fine nonglandular hairs externally, also dotted with sessile glands, the lips lacking longer, denser hairs, hairy in the throat, slightly shorter than the tube, the upper lip strongly arched downward, the lower lip 3-lobed with a pair of short, often somewhat pointed lateral lobes, the central lobe usually entire (rarely minutely notched at the tip), lacking a flangelike extension at the tip. Stamens not exserted from the corolla, hidden under the upper corolla lip. Nutlets 1.2–1.5 mm long, yellowish brown to brown. June–October.

Introduced, uncommon, sporadic (South Dakota to Texas west to California; possibly also Mexico). Roadsides and open, disturbed areas.

This species is sometimes a component in wildflower mixes sown for roadside beautification projects by misguided highway departments.