Mentzelia multiflora, commonly known as Adonis blazingstar, Adonis stickleaf, desert blazingstar, prairie stickleaf and manyflowered mentzelia is a herbaceous perennial wildflower of the family Loasaceae.
Distribution Mentzelia multiflora is found in the western United States and northwestern Mexico: from Montana and North Dakota in the Great Plains; south to Texas and Southern California; and into Sonora and Chihuahua.
This species prefers dry, sandy, well-drained soil. They require direct sunlight and are not found growing in the shade.
Description Mentzelia multiflora grows to about tall. It has shiny white stems and numerous branches. Its sticky, bright green leaves are covered with hairs containing minute barbs.
The flowers are around in diameter, are yellow in colour and normally have ten petals. The flowers open in late afternoon and close in the morning. The flowers are hermaphrodite and flower from March to October. The plant does not live for more than three years.
Varieties Varieties of Mentzelia multiflora include: Mentzelia multiflora var. integra — M.E. Jones Mentzelia multiflora var. longiloba — (J. Darl.) Kartesz Mentzelia multiflora var. multiflora
Taxonomy Mentzelia multiflora was first described by the botanists Thomas Nuttall and Asa Gray. It is a "blazingstar" and is a member of the genus Mentzelia, the "stickleafs".
Uses Medicinal The plant is used by the Native Americans, particularly the Navajo people, as a medicinal plant.University of Michigan at Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany of Mentzelia multiflora . accessed 10.1.2013 It has been used to treat toothache and as a diuretic.Moerman. D.; "Native American Ethnobotany" . Timber Press. Oregon 1998 Whiting. A. F.; Ethnobotany of the Hopi" . North Arizona Society of Science and Art; 1939 The roots and leaves have been used to treat tuberculosis.
Cultivation The plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant, used as a wildflower in specialty gardens.Huxley. A.; "The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening" . 1992. MacMillan Press 1992
References
External links
Calflora Database: Mentzelia multiflora (Adonis blazingstar) Jepson Manual treatment for Mentzelia multiflora subsp. longiloba