Mentzelia packardiae
Mentzelia packardiae is a species of flowering plant in the Loasaceae known by the common names Packard's blazingstar and Packard's stickleaf. It is native to the western United States, where it is known from a small area in Oregon and Nevada.[1]
| Mentzelia packardiae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Cornales |
| Family: | Loasaceae |
| Genus: | Mentzelia |
| Species: | M. packardiae |
| Binomial name | |
| Mentzelia packardiae Glad | |
This annual herb produces erect white to pale green stems up to 40 centimeters tall. The basal leaves are linear and leaves higher on the stem are linear or lance-shaped. Flowers occur along the stem and at its tip. Each has five oval or round petals up to 1.5 centimeters long which are yellow, sometimes with a red spot at the base. The fruit is a capsule up to 3 centimeters long which contains 10 to 20 seeds.[2]
This plant grows on dry, potassium-rich volcanic ash soils.[1] The soils are green-tinged.[2] Associated plants include Senecio ertterae, Trifolium owyheense, and Phacelia lutea.[1][3]
Threats to this rare plant include mining, recreational activity, off-road vehicles, and road construction.[1]
References
- Mentzelia packardiae. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
- Mentzelia packardiae. The Nature Conservancy.
- Mentzelia packardiae. Oregon Department of Agriculture.