Mentzelia involucrata
Bracted blazing star
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Mentzelia involucrata (Bracted blazing star) is a native California herb in the Loasaceae family, recognized by distinctive large pale flowers with white scarious bracts.
Bracted blazing star is a California native annual found in the low desert bioregion in creosote-bush scrub, washes, fans, and steep slopes at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces white to pale yellow flowers with orange veins, 13 to 62 millimeters long, with distinctive white-scarious bracts having green-edged margins. Growing with erect hairy stems 7 to 35 centimeters tall, it develops an upright posture typical of its annual lifecycle. Its leaves range 2 to 18 centimeters long, lanceolate to ovate in shape, with irregular tooth-like edges that provide visual texture. The fruit develops as an erect cylindrical structure 14 to 25 millimeters long, containing small ashy-white seeds with distinctive transverse ridges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; distinctive large pale flowers with white scarious bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, fans, steep slopes, creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Tulare
Outside California: Arizona, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Mentzelia involucrata blooms Jan-May.
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 involucrata native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia involucrata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia involucrata bloom?
Mentzelia involucrata blooms Jan-May.
Where in California does Mentzelia involucrata grow?
Mentzelia involucrata occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Tulare, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Mentzelia involucrata belong to?
Mentzelia involucrata is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
What habitat does Mentzelia involucrata grow in?
Mentzelia involucrata grows in Washes, fans, steep slopes, creosote-bush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.