Taxon Report

Mentzelia torreyi Gray

Torrey's blazing star

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Mentzelia torreyi, commonly known as Torrey's blazing star, is a perennial herb in the Loasaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, Mojavean desert scrub, and Pinyon and juniper woodland, growing at elevations from 1170 to 2835 meters. Mentzelia torreyi is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Mentzelia torreyi Gray
Common Name:	Torrey's blazing star
Family:	Loasaceae
Element Code:	PDLOA031S0
USDA Plants Symbol:	METO2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Aug	Jun-Aug
Elevation:	1170-2835 (3840-9300)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Mojavean desert scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:	Alkaline, Rocky, Sandy, Volcanic (usually)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	17
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	15

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), Mono (MNO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Big Alkali (3811922), Blackrock (3611882), Casa Diablo Mtn. (3711855), Cedar Hill (3811827), Fish Slough (3711844), Independence (3611872), Lee Vining (3711981), Negit Island (3811911), Rovana (3711845), Sulphur Pond (3811818), Toms Place (3711856)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	4
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	12 %
Development	1	5%
Erosion/runoff	1	5%
Foot traffic/trampling	1	5%
Non-native plant impacts	1	5%

Notes



Possibly threatened by vehicles, grazing, and trampling. See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 10:72 (1874) for original description, and Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 21:158-159 (1934) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 30 January 2025].