Mentzelia laevicaulis (Giant Blazing Star)

 7/8/00 Onion Valley Road between 7,000-8,500' elevation, Independence Region,

Inyo National Forest, Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA

 7/8/00 Onion Valley Road

7/8/00 Onion Valley Road

7/6/02 Hot Creek Geologic Site, Eastern Sierra, Mono County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Giant Blazing Star

SPECIES: Mentzelia laevicaulis

FAMILY: Loasaceae (Stickleaf Family)

LIFE LIST DATE: 7/8/2000

LOCATION: Onion Valley Road between 7,000-8,500' elevation, Independence Region, Inyo National Forest, Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA

*******************************************************************************

Treatment from The Jepson Manual (1993):

Perennial 22–100 cm

Stem erect, branching above middle

Leaves generally lobed; basal 19–24 cm; cauline 2–10 cm

Inflorescence: bract linear to lanceolate, entire, toothed at base to deeply 4–5-lobed

Flower: sepals 15–46 mm; petals 30–80 mm; stamens 15–55 mm, outer filaments < 2 mm wide; style 2.5–7 mm

Fruit 15–44 mm, 8–13 mm wide, straight

Seed 3–4 mm, 2–2.5 mm wide, lenticular, winged, fine-pebbled

Ecology: Sandy to rocky slopes, washes, roadcuts

Elevation: < 2700 m.  

Bioregional distribution: California (except Great Central Valley, Sonoran Desert) 

Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada

Flowering time: Jun–Oct

Horticultural information:

 DRN, DRY, SUN: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; DFCLT.