Mentzelia inyoensis
Inyo blazing star
(c) Martin Purdy, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Martin Purdy · licence
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Mentzelia inyoensis (Inyo blazing star) is a native California herb in the Loasaceae family, recognized by distinctive biennial habit and winged seeds.
Inyo blazing star is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native biennial found in the White Mountains on rocky slopes, canyons, washes, and clay hills at elevations of 1,100 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces bright yellow flowers 11 to 16 millimeters long with acute tips, set against green bracts. Growing 15 to 40 centimeters tall with erect, hairy stems, it develops a distinctive branching habit. Its leaves vary from oblanceolate to elliptic in the lower parts of the plant, becoming more lanceolate toward the top, with edges that are toothed or lobed and measure 3 to 11 centimeters long. The plant produces cylindric fruits 11 to 25 millimeters long, containing small white to gray-white winged seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive biennial habit and winged seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, canyons, washes, clay hills
Elevation: 1100-2000 m
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Mentzelia inyoensis blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 inyoensis native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia inyoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia inyoensis bloom?
Mentzelia inyoensis blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Mentzelia inyoensis belong to?
Mentzelia inyoensis is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
Is Mentzelia inyoensis rare or endangered?
Mentzelia inyoensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Mentzelia inyoensis grow in?
Mentzelia inyoensis grows in Rocky slopes, canyons, washes, clay hills.
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.