Mentzelia jonesii
Jones' blazing star
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Family: Loasaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Mentzelia jonesii (Jones' blazing star) is a native California vine in the Loasaceae family, recognized by long curved/S-shaped fruits and textured seed coat.
Jones' blazing star is a California native annual found in the western Mojave Desert and Inyo Mountains in sandy to rocky washes, fans, and flats at elevations of 200 to 1,450 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with orange-yellow bases, 8 to 22 millimeters long in delicate ovate to obovate shapes. Growing with erect to decumbent stems 5 to 40 centimeters tall, the plant displays variable hairiness from completely glabrous to distinctly hairy. Its leaves measure up to 14 centimeters long and range from entire to moderately lobed, with lance-ovate green bracts surrounding the flower clusters. The fruit is uniquely curved, measuring 15 to 38 millimeters long and featuring an S-shaped or less than 180-degree curve.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; long curved/S-shaped fruits and textured seed coat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to rocky washes, fans, flats, roadsides
Elevation: 200-1450 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, Riverside, Kern, San Diego
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona
Bloom period
Mentzelia jonesii blooms Mar-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 jonesii native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia jonesii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia jonesii bloom?
Mentzelia jonesii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Mentzelia jonesii grow?
Mentzelia jonesii occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, Riverside, Kern, San Diego, at elevations of 200-1450 m.
What plant family does Mentzelia jonesii belong to?
Mentzelia jonesii is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
What habitat does Mentzelia jonesii grow in?
Mentzelia jonesii grows in Sandy to rocky washes, fans, flats, roadsides.
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.