Mimulus douglasii is a species of monkeyflower known by the common names brownies and purple mouse ears. It is native to the mountains and foothills of California and Oregon, where it is often found on serpentine soils. M. douglasii was first described in a published flora by George Bentham, an English botanist who was considered "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century,. " It was later described by Asa Gray, the father of North American botany. Mimulus douglasii occurs between 45 - 1200 meters elevation in the mountains and foothills of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Ranges in California and Oregon. It is also found in Southwestern Oregon, Central Western California, and in the Warner Mountains of CaliforniaM. douglasii is classified as a serpentine indicator and hence is most commonly found serpentine soils, but can also be found on bare clay or granitic soils. As a hydrophyte, it is generally found along the upper banks of small creeks, and is classified as a facultative wetland species. However, It is important to note that M. douglasii is equally likely to be found in wetland and non wetland habitats, also occurring in chaparral and foothill woodland communities. Mimulus douglasii flowers between February and April. Growing on serpentine soils, it has adaptations to survive conditions most plants can"t tolerate. Serpentine soils are known to be deficient in essential nutrients for plants. In addition to being low in essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur, serpentine soils also have high levels of magnesium and heavy metals including nickel, cobalt and chromium, which are toxic to most plants.