Mentzelia multiflora
Encyclopedia
Mentzelia multiflora, commonly known as Adonis blazingstar, Adonis stickleaf, desert blazingstar, Prairie stickleaf and manyflowered mentzelia is a herb
aceous perennial
wildflower of the family Loasaceae
native to the Southwestern United States
, California
, and northwestern Mexico. It is a blazingstar and is a member of the Mentzelia
genus, the stickleafs.
and Asa Gray
.
and northern Mexico from Montana
and North Dakota
, south to Sonora
and Chihuahua. This species prefers dry, sandy well-drained soil. They require direct sunlight and cannot grow in the shade.
to treat toothache
. It is also a diuretic. The roots and leaves have been used to treat tuberculosis
.
Mentzelia multiflora var. longiloba (J. Darl.) Kartesz
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
aceous perennial
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
wildflower of the family Loasaceae
Loasaceae
The Loasaceae is a family of 15-20 genera and about 200-260 species of flowering plants in the order Cornales, native to the Americas and Africa. The family comprises annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants, and a few shrubs and small trees.Genera...
native to the Southwestern United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and northwestern Mexico. It is a blazingstar and is a member of the Mentzelia
Mentzelia
Mentzelia is a genus of about 60-70 species of flowering plants in the family Loasaceae, native to the Americas. The genus comprises annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and a few shrubs....
genus, the stickleafs.
Description
This species grows to about 2–2 1/2 feet tall, has shiny white stems and numerous branches. Its sticky, bright green leaves are covered with hairs containing minute barbs. The flowers are around 5 cm (2 in) 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 July to August.Taxonomy
Mentzelia multiflora was first described by the botanists Thomas NuttallThomas Nuttall
Thomas Nuttall was an English botanist and zoologist, who lived and worked in America from 1808 until 1841....
and Asa Gray
Asa Gray
-References:*Asa Gray. Dictionary of American Biography. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928–1936.*Asa Gray. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998.*Asa Gray. Plant Sciences. 4 vols. Macmillan Reference USA, 2001....
.
Distribution
Mentzelia multiflora is found in the western United StatesWestern United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
and northern Mexico from Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, south to Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
and Chihuahua. This species prefers dry, sandy well-drained soil. They require direct sunlight and cannot grow in the shade.
Uses
The plant is used as a Native American medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
to treat toothache
Toothache
A toothache, also known as odontalgia or, less frequently, as odontalgy, is an aching pain in or around a tooth.-Causes:* Dental etiology, In most cases toothaches are caused by problems in the tooth or jaw, such as** Dental caries...
. It is also a diuretic. The roots and leaves have been used to treat tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
Varieties
Mentzelia multiflora var. integra M.E. JonesMentzelia multiflora var. longiloba (J. Darl.) Kartesz
Further reading
- F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
- Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959
- Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3-87429-216-9
- Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
- Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art 1939
- Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9