MIMULUS  , in

botany, a genus (nat. order Scrophulariaceae), of showy, hardy or half-hardy, herbaceous, rarely shrubby plants, natives of the extra-tropical or mountainous parts of both old and new worlds excepting Europe, but chiefly American . The plants have opposite, undivided leaves, and axillary, generally solitary flowers with a two-lipped, gaping corolla . The herbaceous species thrive best in damp situations; the shrubby species, of which M. glutinosus (formerly called Diplacus) is best known, are adapted for pot culture in the greenhouse . M. luteus, the monkey-flower of gardens, has yellow flowers with two dark marks in the mouth of the corolla; M . Langsdorfii, an American species, has become naturalized by river-sides in many parts of Britain . M. moschatus, musk, a native of north-western America, with small, nearly regular, yellow flowers, diffuse hairy stem and hairy scented leaves, is a well known and favourite perennial for pot culture and outside borders .