Mentzelia monoensis
Mono craters blazing star
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Mentzelia monoensis (Mono craters blazing star) is a native California herb in the Loasaceae family, recognized by pumice soil specialist.
Mono craters blazing star is a California native annual ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in the eastern Sierra Nevada in coarse pumice soils and disturbed sites with bitterbrush and Jeffrey pine at elevations of 2,000 to 2,485 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with orange bases, typically 2 to 4 millimeters long. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with erect stems densely covered in bristly hairs, it has a distinctive branching form. Its lower leaves feature up to 6 pairs of short, somewhat opposite lobes, while upper leaves remain mostly entire. The fruit is a slender cylindric to obconic structure 6 to 15 millimeters long, containing irregularly rounded tan seeds with grooved edges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated to Mono Craters; pumice soil specialist
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coarse pumice soils and disturbed sites, sometimes with bitterbrush and Jeffrey pine
Elevation: 2000-2485 m
Bloom period
Mentzelia monoensis blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 monoensis native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia monoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia monoensis bloom?
Mentzelia monoensis blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Mentzelia monoensis belong to?
Mentzelia monoensis is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
Is Mentzelia monoensis rare or endangered?
Mentzelia monoensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Mentzelia monoensis grow in?
Mentzelia monoensis grows in Coarse pumice soils and disturbed sites, sometimes with bitterbrush and Jeffrey pine.
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.