Mentzelia laevicaulis
Mentzelia laevicaulis | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Cornales |
Family: | Loasaceae |
Genus: | Mentzelia |
Species: | M. laevicaulis
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Binomial name | |
Mentzelia laevicaulis | |
Varieties[1] | |
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Mentzelia laevicaulis is a showy biennial or short-lived perennial wildflower native to western North America.[2] Its common names include giant blazingstar[3] and smoothstem blazingstar.[3]
This is a widespread plant which can be found in sandy, rocky, and disturbed areas, such as roadsides.
Description
[edit]It grows a branched stem which may reach a yard in height. The whitish-green stem and its lateral branches bear the occasional triangular sawtoothed leaf. The plant bears capsule fruits containing winged seeds.
At the tip of each branch blooms a spectacular yellow flower. The star-shaped flower has five narrow, pointed petals with shiny yellow surfaces, each up to 3 inches long. Between the petals are long, thin yellow sepals. The center of the open-faced flower is filled with a great many whiskery yellow stamens. Beneath the petals are long, curling bracts.
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References
[edit]- ^ "Mentzelia laevicaulis (Douglas ex Hook.) Torr. & A.Gray". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ Fertig, Walter. "Plant of the Week: Smoothstem blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis)". www.fs.usda.gov. USDA Forest Service. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Mentzelia laevicaulis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
External links
[edit] Media related to Mentzelia laevicaulis at Wikimedia Commons
- Mentzelia
- Flora of British Columbia
- Flora of California
- Flora of Colorado
- Flora of Idaho
- Flora of Montana
- Flora of Nevada
- Flora of Oregon
- Flora of Utah
- Flora of Washington (state)
- Flora of Wyoming
- Flora of the California desert regions
- Flora of the Great Basin
- Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
- Taxa named by Asa Gray
- Taxa named by John Torrey