Kingdom Plantae Family Loasaceae Scientific name Mentzelia multiflora Rank Species | Order Cornales Genus Mentzelia Higher classification Mentzelia | |
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Similar Mentzelia, Mentzelia albicaulis, Loasaceae, Mentzelia involucrata, Mentzelia pumila | ||
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.
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Distribution
Mentzelia multiflora is found in the western United States and northwestern Mexico: from Montana and North Dakota in the Great Plains; south to Texas and Southern California; and into Sonora and Chihuahua.
This species prefers dry, sandy, well-drained soil. They require direct sunlight and are not found growing in the shade.
Description
Mentzelia multiflora grows to about 2–2.5 feet (0.61–0.76 m) tall. It has shiny white stems and numerous branches. Its sticky, bright green leaves are covered with hairs containing minute barbs.
The flowers are around 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter, are yellow in colour and normally have ten petals. The flowers open in late afternoon and close in the morning. The flowers are hermaphrodite and flower from July to August.
Varieties
Varieties of Mentzelia multiflora include:
Taxonomy
Mentzelia multiflora was first described by the botanists Thomas Nuttall and Asa Gray. It is a "blazingstar" and is a member of the Mentzelia genus, the "stickleafs".
Uses
The plant is used by the Native Americans, particularly the Navajo people, as a medicinal plant. It has been used to treat toothache and as a diuretic. The roots and leaves have been used to treat tuberculosis.
The plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant, used as a wildflower in specialty gardens.