Mentzelia eremophila
Solitary blazing star, Solitary Blazing Star
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Mentzelia eremophila (Solitary blazing star) is a native California herb in the Loasaceae family, recognized by large flowers and seeds with conspicuous recurved flap.
Solitary blazing star is a California native annual found in western Mojave Desert in rocky canyons, slopes, and washes at elevations of 600 to 1,250 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with obovate petals 12 to 24 millimeters long. Growing 8 to 43 centimeters tall with erect stems that are glabrous to hairy, it has a delicate and slender structure. Its leaves vary from 1 to 15 centimeters long, with proximal leaves being lobed while distal leaves remain entire or slightly lobed. The fruit is typically curved less than 270 degrees, measuring 19 to 40 millimeters long with tan seeds that have a distinctive recurved flap over the attachment scar.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; large flowers and seeds with conspicuous recurved flap
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, rocky slopes and washes, roadsides, creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: 600-1250 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Mono, Ventura
Bloom period
Mentzelia eremophila blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Camissoniopsis: Mentzelia has many stamens and 3 stigmas; Camissoniopsis has 8 stamens and 4 stigmas.; vs Leptosiphon: Mentzelia has free petals and many stamens; Leptosiphon has fused petals forming a tube.; vs Emmenanthe: Mentzelia has free petals and 3 stigmas; Emmenanthe has fused bell-shaped petals.; vs Eschscholzia: Mentzelia has many stamens and 3 stigmas; Eschscholzia has many stamens and 4 stigmas.; vs Potentilla: Mentzelia has 3 stigmas and capsule fruit; Potentilla has many pistils and achene fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mentzelia eremophila native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia eremophila is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia eremophila bloom?
Mentzelia eremophila blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Mentzelia eremophila grow?
Mentzelia eremophila occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Mono, Ventura, at elevations of 600-1250 m.
What plant family does Mentzelia eremophila belong to?
Mentzelia eremophila is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
Is Mentzelia eremophila rare or endangered?
Mentzelia eremophila carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.