Whitestem Blazingstar, White-stem Blazing-star, White-stemmed Mentzelia
Mentzelia albicaulis
Synonyms: Acrolasia albicaulis, Acrolasia gracilis, Mentzelia albicaulis var. albicaulis, Mentzelia albicaulis var. ctenophora, Mentzelia albicaulis var. gracilis, Mentzelia albicaulis var. tenerrima, Mentzelia gracilis, Mentzelia mojavensis, Trachyphytum gracile
The photo above shows a close-up of a flower of white-stemmed mentzelia as seen on slopes above Girds Creek Rd at the eastern base of Sutton Mt. to the south of the John Day River in central Oregon.........April 8, 2007.
The photo at right shows a close-up of the inflorescence of white-stemmed mentzelia as seen on slopes above Girds Creek Rd at the eastern base of Sutton Mt. to the south of the John Day River in central Oregon.........April 8, 2007.
Characteristics:
White-stemmed mentzelia is an annual wildflower with simple to freely branched
stems from 10-40 cm high. The stem is often glabrous below but becomes white
and shining above. The hairs are often minutely barbed. The leaves measure from
2-10 cm long with the basal leaves typically linear to lanceolate in shape with
entire to shallowly few-lobed to deeply pinnatifid margins narrowing gradually
to the petioles. The stem leaves are linear to lanceolate with subentire to
irregularly lobed margins.
The inflorescence consists of open, few-flowered cymes at the ends of the branches.
The calyx is 1-2 cm long with short, triangular lobes from 2-4 mm long. The
yellow petals are 2-6 mm long and often copper-colored at their base. The 15-35
stamens are shorter than the petals. The capsules are 10-14 mm long, covered
with firm, stiff hairs and are narrowed toward the base.
Habitat:
White-stemmed mentzelia may be found on dry, sandy soils in the desert valleys
and foothills.
Range:
White-stemmed mentzelia may be found to the east of the Cascade and Sierra
Nevada Mts. from British Columbia south to southern California and east to Montana
and New Mexico.
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White-stemmed mentzelia as seen on sand dunes atop the White Bluffs (north), Hanford Reach National Monument.........April 26, 2014.
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The photo at left shows white-stemmed mentzelia as seen on slopes above Girds Creek Rd at the eastern base of Sutton Mt. to the south of the John Day River in central Oregon..........April 8, 2007. The photo at right shows white-stemmed mentzelia with dwarf monkeyflower as seen at Fort Rock State Park, Lake County, Oregon...........May 18, 2016.
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Close-up views of one of the stems and flowers
(left) and a developing fruit (center) of white-stemmed mentzelia as seen about 3/4 mile up Cottonwood Creek at the
northern margin of Pueblo Mt., southeastern Oregon.........June 18, 2004. Note the spreading hairs as well as the drying calyx lobes at the
top, and the linear bract at the base of the fruit.
White-stemmed mentzelia from Fort Rock State Park, Fort Rock, OR, late June, 1995.
Paul Slichter