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Smooth-stemmed Eveningstar
Mentzelia laevicaulis (Dougl.) T. & G.
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Family: Loasaceae,
Eveningstar
Genus: Mentzelia
Description
General: biennial or short-lived perennial from a deep
taproot, 30-100 cm tall. Stem usually one and branched,
rough with short, barbed, spine-like hairs throughout or
nearly smooth near the base.
 Leaves: alternate, the lower ones oblanceolate, deeply
pinnatifid with wavy lobes, up to 15 cm long, the upper
ones stalkless, oblong to ovate-oblong, less deeply lobed.
 Flowers: terminal on numerous branch ends and often
in the top 1 or 2 leaf axils, open at daytime, not fragrant,
each with 1 to several linear, entire to few-toothed bracts at
the base. Calyx 1-2.5 cm long at flowering, enlarging as
the fruit matures, the 5 lobes linear, 1.5-4 cm long. The 5
petals lemon yellow, 2.5-8 cm long, narrowly oblong or
oblong-lanceolate. Stamens very numerous, about 2/3 the
length of the petals, the 5 outer ones often lacking anthers,
expanded, but much narrower than the petals with which
they alternate. Style usually slightly longer than the
stamens, the stigma 3-4 mm long, angled.
Flowering time: July-September.
 Fruits: capsules, 1.5-3.5 cm long. Seeds numerous,
borne horizontally, light grayish-green or brownish,
flattened and distinctly winged.
Distribution
Dry, open sites, up to the lower mountains, in most parts
of MT. Also from B.C. and e. WA, s. to CA, UT and WY.
 Medicinal plant, see below.
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(click on image for full size)
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(click on images for full size)
Smooth-stemmed eveningstar was used medicinally by several Indian tribes, among those the Gosiute, Cheyenne, Mendocino and Montana Indians. The roots were used for earaches, rheumatism and arthritis, and were chewed for thirst prevention.
An infusion of roots was taken for mumps, measles and smallpox, they were also used for fevers and complicated illnesses.
Externally, infusions of roots were used for bruise swellings. A decoction of leaves was taken for stomachaches or used as a wash for skin diseases.
Varieties:
Our specimen belong to var. laevicaulis Dougl. T. & G., which has petals usually at least 4 cm long and fruit capsules more than 2 cm long. |
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