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Mentzelia packardiae

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Mentzelia packardiae

Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this 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

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]

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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Mentzelia packardiae. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
  2. ^ a b Mentzelia packardiae. The Nature Conservancy.
  3. ^ Mentzelia packardiae. Oregon Department of Agriculture.