Taxon Details

Mentzelia polita

polished blazing star

View Report Copy Link Calflora eFlora CCH CalPhotos iNaturalist

Taxon Summary:

Mentzelia polita, commonly known as polished blazing star, is a perennial herb in the Loasaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Mojavean desert scrub, growing at elevations from 1200 to 1580 meters. Mentzelia polita is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Mentzelia polita A. Nels.
Common Name: polished blazing star
Family:	Loasaceae
Element Code:	PDLOA03310
USDA Plants Symbol:	MEPO2
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G2G3
State Rank:	S2?
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes: added to 1B.2 on 2006-12-21
Add Date:	2006-12-21
Date Edited:	2023-01-13

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb

Blooming Period: Apr-Aug

Elevation:
1200 - 1580 meters
3935 - 5185 feet

General Habitats:

Mojavean desert scrub

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Carbonate

Notes

Notes: Known in California only from the Clark Mountains area of San Bernardino County. Potentially threatened by transmission line development. See Botanical Gazette 47: 427 (1909) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	2
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	2	18 %
Foot traffic/trampling	2	18%
Non-native plant impacts	2	18%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					11
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	4	1	0	0	6

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	3
Recent <=20 Years	8

Presence:
Presumed Extant	11
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA), Nevada (NV)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), San Bernardino (SBD)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Clark Mtn. (3511555), Ivanpah Lake (3511554), Nova Canyon (3611733), Pachalka Spring (3511556), Panamint Butte (3611743), State Line Pass (3511564)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

Click on quad for name. Hold Shift Key to use mouse scroll wheel

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory