XMentzelia nuda - Bractless blazingstarX
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Bractless blazingstar -or- Sand Lily -or- Upright Mentzelia (Mentzelia nuda), family Loasaceae (Stickleaf)
Our original identification of this plant was incorrect. As we have learned more about this difficult genus, we were able to correct our mistake. We had noticed photographs of these striking flowers in our reference books and wished to see them 'live'. On this outing, quite unexpectedly, we got our wish. The plants were not far from the river bank in the area we were photographing some American Avocets. The soil was quite dry and sandy. The timing of our visit to the site was lucky in terms of seeing these blooms open. It was early evening. If the petals had still been closed we may have easily missed the flowers. With only the stamens in view, the plants would likely have looked like large creamy thistle as we walked on by. Often photographs on the internet show the plants with the flower petals folded straight up in the air. The genus hosts 60-70 species. They are native to the Americas. Some species are shrubs. The flowers open late in the afternoon and close in the evening. Sometimes they open on overcast days. Sand lily has a strong, deep taproot. It is sometimes called "stickleaf" due to the barbed hairs that cause the leaves to cling to clothing or hair.
USES: The website Native American Ethnobotany shows Mentzelia nuda var. nuda used by the Dakota tribe - Drug - Boiled, strained sap applied externally for fever.
Flower -
Plant location: We were exploring an area of the Adams County Regional Park when we came across this specimen. August 19, 2008. The plants can be found in prairie hillsides, pastures, roadsides, and waste areas, in sandy soils according to Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses. Found in these United States: AZ , CO , IL , KS , MO , MT , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , WY.Plant -
Bloom season: July, August, SeptemberFoliage -
Adams County Regional Park - Colorado - August 19, 2008
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Adams County Regional Park - Colorado - August 19, 2008
A visit from a friend. -
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Adams County Regional Park - Colorado - August 19, 2008
Filaments, anthers, and style. -
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Adams County Regional Park - Colorado - August 19, 2008
Fruit, going to seed. -
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