Duration: Annual

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Annual with slender white stems, to 40 cm tall, stems shining, glabrous to pubescent, hairs of the vegetation cause the plant to stick to clothing, although the hairs are not stinging.

Leaves: Blades sessile, 6-15 cm long, deeply pinnatifid, thick, the upper ones few-toothed or entire.

Flowers: Yellow, axillary, sessile, solitary, or in small clusters, petals 7-15 mm, stamens shorter than the petals, bracts lanceolate, entire.

Fruits: S-shaped or obconic to club-shaped capsules, 13-26 mm long, seeds square and irregularly angled, seeds not grooved on the angles.

Ecology: Found in sandy soils, in washes and on plains, from 1,500-2,000 ft (457-610 m); flowering March-June.

Notes: The main difference between Mentzelia nitens and Mentzelia jonesii appears to be the capsule size and flower size of M. jonesii, but other differences are difficult to determine, and care should be taken when identifying these species. Please note that the capsule shape of M. nitens does not appear to be a consistent key. There is a little uncertainty as to the identity of this species, as Christy 1998 does not recognize it. Mentzelias are tricky; please note that mature fruits and seeds are nearly always necessary for ID.

Ethnobotany: There is no specific use of the species recorded, but the genus was used as a food source, the seeds were ground, parbroiled, or parched and stored for later use.

Etymology: Mentzelia is named for Christian Mentzel or Christianus Mentzelius (1622-1701), a 17th century German botanist, while nitens means shining.

Synonyms: None

Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011