blazing-star (blazing-star mentzelia; smoothstem blazingstar)
Loasaceae (Loasa family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
© Thayne Tuason (Photo ID #76376)
SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Species Information
General:
Biennial or short-lived perennial herb from a deep taproot; stems ascending to erect, several, branched, angular, harshly barbed-hairy throughout but nearly glabrous near the bases, 0.3-1 m tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves linear to shallowly lobed, 10-15 cm long; stem leaves alternate, unstalked, oblong to egg-shaped but less deeply lobed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous flowers in a compact terminal or axillary cluster; petals 5, lemon yellow, 2.5-8 cm long; calyces 1-2.5 mm long; stamens 2/3 the length of the petals; bracts linear.
Fruits:
Capsules, oblong, 1.5-3.5 cm long; seeds numerous, flattened, winged, greyish-green or brownish.
Notes:
Two, sometimes difficult to separate, varieties are recognized in BC:
1. Petals at least 4-8 cm long; fruits usually over 2 cm long ...................var. laevicaulis
1. Petals 1.5-4 cm long; fruits usually less than 2 cm long...................... var. parviflora (Dougl. ex Hook.) C.L. Hitchc.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
597 | 411 | 784 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
67 | 65 | 70 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
214 | 188 | 240 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
B | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
2 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
BG | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BG(1), PP(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Dry slopes in the steppe and lower montane zones; frequent in SC BC; S to MT, UT and CA.Taxonomic Keys
1. Plants biennials or perennials; seeds flattened...........................M. laevicaulis
1. Plants annuals; seeds not flattened. 2. Basal leaves linear to shallowly lobed; seeds obscurely rough-pimply and apparently smooth 10X magnification; flower bracts mostly egg-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped; inflorescence congested............................M. dispersa 2. Basal leaves oblanceolate, deeply pinnatifid with deeply notched lobes; seeds conspicuously rough-pimply under 10X magnification; flower bracts narrowly to broadly lanceolate; inflorescence not congested.......................M. albicaulis Source: Illustrated Flora of British Columbia |