General: Smoothstem Blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis) is a perennial forb that starts as a basal rosette and eventually puts up a tall flower stalk. The leaves are lanceolate and have a white rachus and wavy margins. The flower has five, long linear petals and very long stamens.

Smoothstem Blazingstar is an uncommon component of vegetation communities in dry, well-drained gravelly areas on bajadas into the lower mountains in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland), Transition (Yellow Pine Forest), Canadian (Pine-Fir Forest) life zone, and Hudsonian (Bristlecone Pine Forest) life zones.

Around Las Vegas, look for Smoothstem Blazingstar at middle and higher elevations in Red Rock Canyon NCA and up on Mt. Charleston.

Family: Loasa (Loasaceae)