Adonis blazingstar (Plants of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque)

Adonis blazingstar

Mentzelia multiflora

Summary ⁹

Mentzelia multiflora is a herbacious perennial wildflower in the Loasaceae family. It is found in the western United States and northwestern Mexico.

Botanical Information ¹⁰

Mentzelia multiflora is the scientific name for the plant commonly known as blazing star or Adonis blazingstar. It is a biennial or perennial herbaceous plant that grows up to 60 cm tall. The stems grow upward, branch at the base and are whitish in color with rough barbed hairs. The leaves grow in an alternate pattern from the stem and are deeply lobed. The yellow flowers grow in clusters from the ends of the branches. It has 5 petals that are roughly 15-20mm long. The stamen transition from a petal-like appearance in the outer edge of the whorl into the more classic anther and filament form towards the center. The fruit is an oblong capsule also 15-20 mm in length.

Ecological Information ¹⁰

Blazing star grows in northern California and it also grows in other parts of the United States, including New Mexico. It is native to this region of the southwestern United States. The best habitat for blazing star is with full sun or part sun and well drained soil. It especially thrives in dry, sandy soils. Blazing star is food for animals like rabbits, groundhogs, deer, livestock, prairie vole, and meadow vole.

Ethnobotanical Information ¹¹

Blazing star is a plant that is edible and is used for medical treatment of kidney problems and back and rib pain associated with tuberculosis. An infusion of the herb was used by the Keres people as a diuretic. The leaves and roots were also reported to be used by them as tuberculosis medicine. The Navajo used the plant as an emetic and ate the seeds. (Note: Ethnographic reports often lack important contextual information and relevant traditional ecological knowledge.)

References ¹²

The University of Texas at Austin, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (2016-03-15). Plant Database, Mentzelia multiflora. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=memu3

Bosque Field Guide
Cartron, Lightfoot, Mygatt, Brantley, Lowrey. (2008). A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque. (p. 89). New Mexico, University of New Mexico Press.

Native American Ethnobotany Database. (2021-07-08). Mentzelia multiflora. http://naeb.brit.org/uses/species/2454/

About the Author ¹³

Student author(s)*: Jaciel and Sebastian (age 13) from South Valley Academy

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/

Sources and Credits

(c) Laura Camp, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/lauracamp/9037616971/
(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/4830282983/
(c) Erin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/lance_mountain/3480752929/
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/zharkikh/41801782635/
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/zharkikh/40891660210/
(c) Anthony Mendoza, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/39039456@N07/6031753018/
(c) Anthony Mendoza, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/39039456@N07/6031751416/
(c) Anthony Mendoza, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/39039456@N07/6031756562/
Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentzelia
Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) kristen_himm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Adapted by Hannah from a work by (c) caseynm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) caseynm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

Range Map

iNat Map

Color	white, yellow
Uses	medicinal
Type	herb

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