''Mentzelia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of about 60-70

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Loasaceae Loasaceae is a family of 15–20 genera and about 200–260 species of flowering plants in the order Cornales, native to the Americas and Africa. Members of the family include annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants, and a few shrubs an ...

, native to the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

. The genus comprises

annual Annual may refer to: * Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year **Yearbook ** Literary annual * Annual plant * Annual report * Annual giving * Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco * Annuals (b ...

biennial Biennial means (an event) lasting for two years or occurring every two years. The related term biennium is used in reference to a period of two years. In particular, it can refer to: * Biennial plant, a plant which blooms in its second year and th ...

, and

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

plants and a few

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s. They are commonly called blazing stars or stickleafs; other names include evening stars and moonflowers. Mentzelia laevicaulis

Selected species

*'' Mentzelia affinis'' Greene – Yellowcomet *''

Mentzelia albescens ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing stars ...

'' (Gillies & Arn.) Griseb. *''

Mentzelia albicaulis ''Mentzelia albicaulis'' is a species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae known by the common names whitestem blazingstar, white-stemmed stickleaf, and small flowered blazing star. It is native to much of western North America, where it g ...

'' (Douglas ex Hook.) Douglas ex Torr. & A.Gray – Whitestem blazingstar *''

Mentzelia aspera ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing stars ...

'' L. *''

Mentzelia candelariae ''Mentzelia candelariae'' is a wildflower native to Nevada. It has been found in the counties of Churchill, Esmeralda, Mineral In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a f ...

'' H.J. Thomp. & Prigge – Candelaria blazingstar *''

Mentzelia chrysantha ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing stars ...

'' Engelm. ex Brandegee *''

Mentzelia congesta ''Mentzelia congesta'' is a species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae known by the common name united blazingstar. Distribution The plant is native to the western United States, from Idaho to California.

'' Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray – United blazingstar *''

Mentzelia conzattii ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing stars ...

'' Greenm. *''

Mentzelia cordifolia ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing stars ...

'' Dombey ex Urb. & Gilg *''

Mentzelia crocea ''Mentzelia crocea'', the Sierra blazingstar or saffron blazing star, is an annual wildflower endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. The flowering plant can be found up to elevation. Description The stem grows up to a meter tall ...

'' Kellogg – Sierra blazingstar *''

Mentzelia decapetala ''Mentzelia decapetala'' (commonly known as tenpetal blazingstar, evening-star, candleflower, gumbo lily, or chalk lily) is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more tha ...

'' (Pursh ex Sims) Urb. & Gilg – Tenpetal blazingstar *''

Mentzelia densa ''Mentzelia densa'' is a species of flowering plant in the Loasaceae known by the common names Royal Gorge blazingstar and Royal Gorge stickleaf. It is endemic to Colorado in the United States, where it occurs in the Arkansas River Valley in Fre ...

'' Greene *''

Mentzelia desertorum ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual plant, annual, biennial plant, biennial, and perennial plant, perennial herbaceous ...

'' (Davidson) H.J. Thomp. & Roberts – Desert blazingstar *'' Mentzelia dispersa'' S.Watson – Mada stickleaf *'' Mentzelia eremophila'' – Pinyon blazingstar *'' Mentzelia fendleriana'' Urb. & Gilg *'' Mentzelia goodrichii'' Thorne & S.L. Welsh – Goodrich's blazingstar *'' Mentzelia gracilenta'' – Grass blazingstar *'' Mentzelia hirsutissima'' ** ''Mentzelia hirsutissima'' var. ''nesiotes'' *'' Mentzelia hispida'' *'' Mentzelia involucrata'' – Sand blazingstar, white-bract blazingstar *'' Mentzelia inyoensis'' – Inyo blazingstar *'' Mentzelia jonesii'' – Jones' blazingstar *''

Mentzelia laevicaulis ''Mentzelia laevicaulis'' is a showy wildflower native to western North America. Its common names include giant blazingstar and smoothstem blazingstar. This is a widespread plant which can be found in sandy, rocky, and disturbed areas, such as r ...

'' (Douglas ex Hook.) Torr. & A.Gray – Giant blazingstar *''

Mentzelia leucophylla ''Mentzelia leucophylla'', known by the common name Ash Meadows blazingstar, is a rare species of flowering plant in the Loasaceae. It is endemic to southwestern Nevada, in the Western United States. Distribution The locally endemic plant is on ...

'' Brandegee *''

Mentzelia lindleyi ''Mentzelia lindleyi'', commonly known as golden bartonia, Lindley's blazingstar, evening star, or blazing star, is an annual wildflower of western North America. Distribution The plant is found in the California Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay ...

'' Torr. & A.Gray - Lindley's blazingstar *'' Mentzelia memorabilis'' N. H. Holmgren & P. K. Holmgren - Nine-eleven blazingstar, September 11 stickleaf *'' Mentzelia micrantha'' – San Luis blazingstar *'' Mentzelia mollis'' M.Peck *'' Mentzelia montana'' – Variegated-bract blazingstar *''

Mentzelia multiflora ''Mentzelia multiflora'', commonly known as Adonis blazingstar, Adonis stickleaf, desert blazingstar, prairie stickleaf and manyflowered mentzelia is a herbaceous perennial wildflower of the family Loasaceae. Distribution ''Mentzelia multiflora ...

'' (Nutt.) A.Gray – Adonis blazingstar *'' Mentzelia nitens'' – Shining blazingstar *''

Mentzelia nuda ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing star ...

'' (Pursh) Torr. & A.Gray *'' Mentzelia oligosperma'' Nutt. ex Sims *'' Mentzelia oreophila'' – Argus blazingstar *''

Mentzelia packardiae ''Mentzelia packardiae'' is a species of flowering plant in the Loasaceae known by the common names Packard's blazingstar and Packard's stickleaf. It is native to the western United States, where it is known from a small area in Oregon and Nevada ...

'' Glad *'' Mentzelia parvifolia'' Urb. & Gilg ex Kurtz *''

Mentzelia pectinata ''Mentzelia pectinata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Loasaceae known by the common name San Joaquin blazingstar. Distribution It is endemic to California, where it grows in the hills and mountains on either side of the San Joaqu ...

'' – San Joaquin blazingstar *'' Mentzelia polita'' – Polished blazingstar *''

Mentzelia pterosperma ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing star ...

'' *'' Mentzelia pumila'' Nutt. ex. Torr. & A. Gray – Dwarf mentzelia *'' Mentzelia reflexa'' – Reflexed blazingstar *'' Mentzelia rhizomata'' Reveal *''

Mentzelia scabra ''Mentzelia'' is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs. They are commonly called blazing star ...

'' Kunth *'' Mentzelia springeri'' – Santa Fe blazingstar *'' Mentzelia tiehmii'' *'' Mentzelia todiltoensis'' *'' Mentzelia torreyi'' – Torrey's blazingstar *'' Mentzelia tricuspis'' – Spinyhair blazingstar *''

Mentzelia veatchiana ''Mentzelia veatchiana'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Loasaceae known by the common name Veatch's blazingstar. It is native to the western United States from Oregon and southern Idaho, south through California and Arizona, to no ...

'' – Veatch's blazingstar

References

Flora of Bolivia checklist: ''Mentzelia''Flora of Missouri checklist: ''Mentzelia''
Flora of North America Cornales genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Cornales-stub