Soft blazingstar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soft blazingstar |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mentzelia
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| Species: |
mollis
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Mentzelia mollis, also known as the soft blazingstar, is a special flowering plant. It is part of the Loasaceae family. You can find this unique plant growing in the western parts of the United States. It lives in states like Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada.
Contents
What is the Soft Blazingstar?
This plant is an annual herb. This means it completes its whole life cycle in one year. It usually grows between 5 and 12 centimeters tall. That's about 2 to 5 inches. It has a thick stem that branches out and stands upright.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the soft blazingstar are shaped like a spear. They are mostly smooth along their edges. The plant produces bright yellow flowers. Each petal is about one centimeter long. In the middle of the flower, there are many stamens. Stamens are the parts of a flower that produce pollen.
Life Cycle and Visitors
The soft blazingstar usually blooms in May and June. Its bright flowers attract bumblebees. Bumblebees help the plant by carrying pollen from one flower to another. This helps the plant make seeds. After flowering, the plant grows a fruit. This fruit is a four-sided capsule. It can be about 2.5 centimeters long.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant grows in very specific types of soil. One type is called montmorillonite. This is a slick, powdery clay soil. It also grows in volcanic ash soils. These soils are rich in potassium. The ground where it grows also has a lot of calcium and sodium.
Soil and Climate
During the summer, the soil temperatures are very hot. The ground is often quite bare. Not many other plants can grow there. However, you might find other annual plants. These include Monolepis pusilla, Mentzelia albicaulis, Cleomella macbrideana, and Phacelia humilis. The area where it lives gets only about 10 to 12 inches of rain each year. This is not very much rain.
Where Can You Find It and What Are Its Dangers?
You can find the soft blazingstar in specific areas. These include Malheur County, Oregon, Owyhee County, Idaho, and Humboldt County, Nevada.
Threats to the Plant
This special plant faces some dangers. Its home, or habitat, can be destroyed. This happens because of human activities. One threat is mining activity. Mining can dig up the land where the plants grow. Another danger is the use of off-road vehicles. These vehicles can drive over and damage the plants and their delicate soil. Protecting these areas helps the soft blazingstar survive.
