Mentzelia pterosperma
Wing-seed blazing star
(c) Alissa Iverson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Mentzelia pterosperma (Wing-seed blazing star) is a native California herb in the Loasaceae family, recognized by distinctive habitat on gypsum and stamens lacking anthers.
Wing-seed blazing star is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in the eastern central Mojave Desert in white gypsum-rich soils at elevations of 1,000 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with acute to long-tapered petals 6.5 to 17 millimeters long. Growing with erect, hairy stems 6 to 42 centimeters tall, it has a distinctive appearance with variable leaf shapes. Its leaves range from elliptic to oblanceolate, with proximal leaves entire to short-toothed and distal leaves often toothed or lobed near the base. The fruit is an erect, cup-shaped to cylindric structure with distinctive pale gray seeds featuring white wings.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive habitat on gypsum and stamens lacking anthers
Habitat and range
Habitat: +- white gypsum-rich soils
Elevation: 1000-1200 m
Outside California: to Colorado, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Mentzelia pterosperma blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
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 pterosperma native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia pterosperma is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia pterosperma bloom?
Mentzelia pterosperma blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Mentzelia pterosperma belong to?
Mentzelia pterosperma is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
Is Mentzelia pterosperma rare or endangered?
Mentzelia pterosperma carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1S2.
What habitat does Mentzelia pterosperma grow in?
Mentzelia pterosperma grows in +- white gypsum-rich soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.