Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Mentzelia rusbyi 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. The
capsules have longitudinal costal ridges.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Mentzelia rusbyi, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, May 24, 2007
Mentzelia rusbyi, foliage, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, May 24, 2007
Mentzelia rusbyi, undersurface of leaf with velcro-like hooked cilia, photo Russ Kleinman, Catwalk, Oct. 15, 2007
Mentzelia rusbyi, capsule, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Nov. 13, 2008
Mentzelia rusbyi, winged seeds, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Dec. 25, 2008
Mentzelia rusbyi, photomicrograph of two types of hairs on lower surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 18, 2016
Mentzelia rusbyi, photomicrograph of hair with upward pointing barbs on lower surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 18, 2016
Mentzelia rusbyi, 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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