Mentzelia hirsutissima

Hairy stickleaf, Hairy Stickleaf

Family: Loasaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Hairy stickleaf is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native annual found in western Colorado Desert bioregion in creosote-bush scrub washes, fans, and slopes at elevations below 720 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pale yellow to orange flowers with obovate petals 12 to 31 millimeters long, creating delicate blooms. Growing 5 to 31 centimeters tall with erect, hairy stems that branch at the base, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves range 1 to 11 centimeters long, lanceolate to oblanceolate, with toothed or lobed edges and lower leaves that clasp the stem. The plant produces cylindrical fruits 13 to 25 millimeters long, bearing ashy-white seeds with a distinctive beak.

Habitat: Washes, fans, slopes, creosote-bush scrub

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: < 720 m

Bioregions: w DSon

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.