Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Mentzelia multiflora (Nuttall) Gray
(Many Flowered Blazingstar, Adonis Blazingstar)


Family: Loasaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Bartonia multiflora Nuttall
Mentzelia pumila Nuttall ex Torrey & Gray var. multiflora (Nuttall) Urban & Gilg
Nuttallia multiflora (Nuttall) Greene

Mentzelia multiflora is an upright herb with bright yellow flowers with many stamens. The stems are whitish and the upper surface of the leaves are bright green. The lower surface of the leaves sticks tenaciously to clothing. This adhesion to clothing is caused by two kinds of hairs present on the lower surface of the leaf. One type of hair has upward point barbs and no cap. The other type of hair has downward pointing barbs and has a cap on top that also has downward pointing barbs on it. The capsules open at the top and contain dozens of small, broadly winged seeds that are minutely but densely covered with rounded projections.
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Mentzelia multiflora, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, May 24, 2007



Mentzelia multiflora, foliage, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, May 24, 2007



Mentzelia multiflora, undersurface of leaf with velcro-like hooked cilia, photo Russ Kleinman, Catwalk, Oct. 15, 2007



Mentzelia multiflora, capsule, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Nov. 13, 2008



Mentzelia multiflora, winged seeds, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Dec. 25, 2008



Mentzelia multiflora, photomicrograph of two types of hairs on lower surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 18, 2016



Mentzelia multiflora, photomicrograph of hair with upward pointing barbs on lower surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 18, 2016



Mentzelia multiflora, photomicrograph of hair with downward pointing barbs and cap on lower surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 18, 2016



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