Mentzelia laevicaulis

Mentzelia laevicaulis

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

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

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

Description

Yellow blazing star (Mentzelia laevicaulis)

It grows a weedy-looking, branched stem which may reach a meter 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 8 centimeters 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.

Mentzelia laevicaulis (Losaceae Botanical Family)

References

1 2 "USDA GRIN Taxonomy". Retrieved 5 September 2014.

External links

Media related to Mentzelia laevicaulis at Wikimedia Commons

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