Plants 5–25 cm. Basal leaves: petioles present; blade lanceolate, to 9 cm; margins shallowly lobed, lobes rounded. Cauline leaves: petioles present, rarely absent, present in distalmost leaves; blade broadly ovate to lanceolate, to 9 cm, base not cordate-clasping, margins dentate to serrate. Bracts green, inconspicuous, not concealing pedicel, ovary, or capsule. Flowers: petals white to pale yellow, obovate, 10–40 mm, apex mucronate; stamens 6–15 mm, less than 1/2 petal length, all fertile, none petaloid (flowers appearing to have 5 petals); filaments ± monomorphic, linear, most or all distally 2-lobed, lobes 0.1–0.7 mm; anther stalk longer than or equal to filament lobes; style 9–13 mm. Capsules cylindric to ovoid, 9–18 × 5–8 mm, basal nodding, distal erect. Seeds widest at middle, not grooved; seed coat anticlinal cell walls straight or wavy. 2n = 20.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly slopes, washes, desert scrub.
Elevation: 600–1300 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

Mentzelia tridentata is known from the central and western Mojave Desert in Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino counties. See 55. M. tricuspis for comparison with M. tridentata.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.