Mentzelia ravenii
Grass blazingstar
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Mentzelia ravenii (Grass blazingstar) is a native California annual in the Loasaceae family, recognized by white-based bracts in desert habitat with distinctively angular seeds.
Grass blazingstar is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in the eastern Peninsular Ranges, southwestern Mojave Desert, and western Colorado Desert in sandy desert foothills and creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with orange bases, 5 to 11 millimeters long, emerging from white-based bracts. Growing with erect, hairy stems 5 to 45 centimeters tall, it has a delicate and distinctive branching structure. Its leaves vary from deeply lobed proximal leaves to toothed or lobed distal leaves measuring 1 to 18 centimeters long, creating a textured appearance. The fruit is an erect to slightly curved capsule 8 to 23 millimeters long, containing irregularly angular tan seeds with dark mottling.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; white-based bracts in desert habitat with distinctively angular seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy desert foothills, roadsides, creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland
Elevation: < 1200 m
Bloom period
Mentzelia ravenii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 ravenii native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia ravenii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia ravenii bloom?
Mentzelia ravenii blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Mentzelia ravenii belong to?
Mentzelia ravenii is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
Is Mentzelia ravenii rare or endangered?
Mentzelia ravenii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Mentzelia ravenii grow in?
Mentzelia ravenii grows in Sandy desert foothills, roadsides, creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.