Scientific Family
Loasaceae
Synonyms
Acrolasia affinis
Other common names
yellowcomet
stickleaf
blazing star
triangle-seed blazing star
hydra blazingstar
yellow comet stickleaf
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Similar species
Mentzelia albicaulis
Height
To 16 inches
Riparian
No
Annual with slender white stems, stems shining, hairless to hairy, hairs of the vegetation cause the plant to stick to clothing, although the hairs are not stinging, blades without stalks, flowers yellow, 5-petaled.
Slender white, shiny stems, smooth to hairy, hairs not stinging, flowers in leaf axils, solitary or in small clusters, yellow, stamens attach below petals; fruit narrowly cylindrical, seeds irregularly square, fruits and seeds usually needed for ID.Â
Habitat
Sandy soils, in washes and on plains.
Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
2000
Flower Characteristics
In leaf axils, not stemmed, solitary, or in small rounded clusters, sepals 1/16 inch long, petals to 1/8 inch long, stamens shorter than the petals.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves not stalked, rough to the touch, thick, the lower leaves narrowly pointed at the base, the margins somewhat toothed to smooth, the upper leaves linear to lance-like, about 1 inch long, pinnatifid.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green, gray-green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Narrow-cylindric capsules to 1/2 inch long.
Fruit type
Capsule
Square and irregularly angled, seeds grooved on the angles.