Whitestem Blazingstar, Rama Pegajosa, Small-flowered Blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis Stickleaf Family (Loasaceae)

The Bloom Blog
Blooming this week in the environs of Abiquiú
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By Wildflowers of the Southern Rocky Mountains

Whitestem Blazingstar, Rama Pegajosa, Small-flowered Blazingstar
Mentzelia albicaulis
Stickleaf Family (Loasaceae)

Found in dry, sandy areas
Seen blooming in May by CR 142, Abiquiu

The Stickleaf family is so named because their leaves have barbed hairs that stick to clothing and fur like Velcro. The Whitestem Blazingstar starts blooming as soon as it is just out of the ground, as shown in the photo, until it reaches its maximum height of six to twelve inches. The stem is pale in color, maturing to white, growing from a distinctive basal rosette of rough, deeply lobed leaves. The overall plant is more dainty, less bushy and less commonly seen than other members of the family. Flowers have five yellow petals which are orange at the center and are barely ½ inch across. The flower heads are often nodding. Several Native American tribes used the seeds for food, grinding them into a flour or butter. The Hopi smoked the plant as a substitute for tobacco and used it for a toothache remedy. The Navajo made a compound of the leaves for snakebites. Source.

​If you trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.