Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba
Dune blazing star
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba (Dune blazing star) is a native California herb in the Loasaceae family, recognized by biennial with distinctive spoon-shaped sterile stamens.
Dune blazing star is a California native biennial found in desert regions in sandy dunes, washes, and creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from October to June, this plant produces vibrant yellow flowers 12 to 20 millimeters long with rounded tips that stand out against its branching form. Growing 25 to 65 centimeters tall with erect, openly branched stems covered in distinctive hairs, it develops a complex structure with variable leaf shapes. Its leaves range from oblanceolate to elliptic, with proximal leaves 1 to 15 centimeters long that are often crenate or pinnately lobed, while upper leaves become more lanceolate and toothed. The fruit is an erect cylindrical capsule 9.5 to 16 millimeters long, containing light brown seeds with white wing-like margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; biennial with distinctive spoon-shaped sterile stamens
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert dunes, sandy flats, washes, creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 800 m
Outside California: to Colorado, New Mexico, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba blooms Oct-Jun.
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 longiloba var. longiloba native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba bloom?
Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba blooms Oct-Jun.
What plant family does Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba belong to?
Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
What habitat does Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba grow in?
Mentzelia longiloba var. longiloba grows in Desert dunes, sandy flats, washes, creosote-bush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.