Varieties:
USDA has two subspecies: M. fistulosa ssp fisulosa and M. fistulosa ssp. brevis
found only in western VA and WV.
Weakley (2018) lists three varieties of the species in NC: M. fistulosa var. fistulosa, var. mollis, and var. rubra. Weakley's (2018)
Range Maps indicate that the first two are "common" in the Mountains and the Piedmont,
with the latter occurring on "Moist wooded slopes" as opposed to meadows and edges for the former.
He indicates that var. rubra, also of "Moist slope forests" but "rare" and only in the Mountains,
is a problematic taxon, confusable with M. media.
Note: There is a lot of variety in the Monarda genus.
This species is noted for flowers opening from the center downward and having a tuff of hair on the upper lip.
The flowers can be pink, lavender, purple or white. The lower lip is three lobed.
Similar to M. clinopodia which has purple spotted dots on the lower lip. The leaves
are up to 4 inches long and lance shpaed and toothed. Color is often red-purple-tinged.
