Plant Name
Scientific Name: Mentzelia jonesii
Synonyms: Mentzelia nitens var. jonesii, M. nitens var. leptocaulis
Common Names: Jones' Blazingstar, Jones Stickleaf
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual
Growth Habit: Weak vine, Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Desert, Upland
Flower Color: Brilliant yellow
Flowering Season: Spring
Height: To 16 inches (41 cm) tall
Description: The flowers are 1 inch (2.5 cm) across and have 5 shiny petals. The petals usually have orange at the base. The flowers are followed by s-shaped seed capsules. The leaves are green, hairy, elliptic to lanceolate in shape, and pinnately lobed. The stems are mostly hairless.
The similar Shining Blazingstar (Mentzelia nitens) is not found in Arizona, while Lindley's Blazingstar (M. lindleyi) has longer stamens, and Whitestem Blazingstar (M. albicaulis) and Yellowcomet (M. affinis) have smaller flowers.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Dilleniidae
Order: Violales
Family: Loasaceae – Loasa family
Genus: Mentzelia L. – blazingstar
Species: Mentzelia jonesii (Urb. & Gilg) H.J. Thomp. & Roberts – Jones' blazingstar
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