Scientific Family
Loasaceae
Synonyms
Acrolasia albicaulis, A. gracilis, Mentzelia gracilis, M. mojavensis, Trachyphytum gracile
Other common names
small-flowered blazing star
whitestem stickleaf
white blazingstar
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
4 to 16 inches
Riparian
No
Erect with branching throughout. Stems shining white with short hairs. Flowers are at the end of stems.
White stems, branching; basal leaves, stem leaves alternate, no stalk; blades lanceolate, lobed margins; leaf surfaces with barbed hairs; yellow or orange flower clusters at branch tips, petals to 1/4 inch; capsules club-shaped; seeds not winged.
Habitat
Dry meadows and hillsides, gravel fans, washes, scrub to pinyon juniper woodland.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
6000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers are in clusters of 1 to 3 at stem tops; petals 5, to 1/4 inch long; stamens 15 to 25, shorter than petals.
Flower color
Yellow or orange
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
February
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves without stems, 1 to 4 inches long, oblong, with pointed tips; edges deeply lobed, comb-like, toothed or smooth. Leaves are rough to the touch. Barbed hairs cause leaves to stick to clothing.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit capsules often long-tapering to base, club-like.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Brown
Seeds are not winged, those in upper half of capsule grain-like.