Wildlife Wednesday — BlazingStar

By Andy Ames

Last week we celebrated National Moth Week with a look at the day-active Police Car moth. This week we look at a flower that evolved with night flying moths in mind. During the day Smoothstem Blazingstar, Mentzelia laevicaulis, is easy to ignore with its long jagged leaves reminiscent of a thistle. This Blazingstar is also known as Stickleaf due to the stiff hairs on the leaves that give them a rough texture that can easily stick to clothes. The evening is when this flower really comes to life. The flowers open in a brilliant yellow with a very sweet odor. During the night they have little competition in attracting night flying pollinators, such as the Sphinx moth. While some places report Blazingstar open during daylight hours, I have found them closed up and back to their mild mannered appearance by dawn.

Blazingstar or Stickleaf. With the brilliant night time flowers and rough leaves it is easy to see how it earns both common names.

Bend down close and you will be treated to a very sweet smell.

A Blazingstar with the flowers just opening in the evening. Blazingstar grows in sunny disturbed areas so can be mistaken for a weed. In fact, it may be seen surrounded by invasive plants such as cheat grass or knapweed.

The same plant at dawn. Notice how the flowers are all closed up and even the sweet odor turned off until the following evening. Cylindrical seed pods are also visible in this photo.

Blazingstar or Stickleaf. With the brilliant night time flowers and rough leaves it is easy to see how it earns both common names.