bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Mentzelia laevicaulis is a showy wildflower native to western North America. Its common names include giant blazingstar[1] and smoothstem blazingstar.[1]

Mentzelia laevicaulis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Loasaceae
Genus:	Mentzelia
Species:	M. laevicaulis
Binomial name
Mentzelia laevicaulis (Dougl. ex Hook.) Torr. & Gray

This is a widespread plant which can be found in sandy, rocky, and disturbed areas, such as roadsides.

Description

It grows a weedy-looking, 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.

References

External links

Media related to Mentzelia laevicaulis at Wikimedia Commons

• Jepson Manual Treatment — Mentzelia laevicaulis
• Ventanawild.org: natural history
• Mentzelia laevicaulis — U.C. Photo gallery

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