Mentzelia pumila
| Mentzelia pumila | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Cornales |
| Family: | Loasaceae |
| Genus: | Mentzelia |
| Species: | M. pumila |
| Binomial name | |
| Mentzelia pumila Nutt. ex. Torr. & A. Gray | |
Mentzelia pumila, (Dwarf mentzelia, Desert Blazing Star, Blazing Star, Bullet Stickleaf, Yellow mentzelia, Evening star, Moonflower, etc.) is a biennial wildflower found in the western United States and northern Mexico from Montana and North Dakota, south to Sonora and Chihuahua. It is a blazingstar and is a member of the Mentzelia genus, the stickleafs; member species are also called "evening stars", but some stickleafs close at sunset, as does M. pumila.
Leaves of Desert Blazing Star are long, very narrow, and serrated-pinnate-like; also medium to light grayish green; an individual plant in an opportune site can be 1.5-2.5 feet (1 m) in height. The flowers are a bright, glossy medium yellow, and the major petals are variable, sometimes 5 major, 5 minor; also 4 and 4.
The Desert Blazing Star is covered in minute elaborations known as trichomes, which pierce and trap insects that land on it. A species of aphid, Macrosyphum mentzeliae colonises the plant and is afforded protection, since its main predator, the ladybird beetle, is unable to avoid the trichomes. [1]
Uses
The root is a laxative.[2] The Zuni people insert this plant into the rectum as a suppository for constipation.[3] Plant used to whip children to make them strong so they could hold on to a horse without falling.[4]
Footnotes
References
External links
- Photo-Medium Res--(NOTE: 5-1/2 major petals, 5 minor-(a VARIATION)); Article - www.saguaro-juniper.com – "Wildflowers on Saguaro-Juniper Lands"
- Photo-High Res--(Field Photo); Photo-(Flower-(and Seed pod)--Very High Res); Article - www.naturesongs.com – "Verde Valley-(Arizona) Plants"
