Mentzelia affinis
Mentzelia monoensis
yellow comet
Mono craters blazing star
persisting;
petiole present or absent;
blade linear-lanceolate to linear, margins usually deeply to moderately lobed, sinuses extending 1/4+ to midvein, rarely entire.
persisting;
petiole present or absent;
blade linear-lanceolate to linear, margins usually moderately to shallowly lobed, rarely entire.
petiole absent;
blade ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, to 17 cm, margins usually dentate or entire, rarely deeply lobed.
petiole present or absent (proximal leaves), absent (distal leaves);
blade linear-lanceolate to linear (proximal leaves), ovate to linear (distal leaves), to 13 cm, margins usually moderately to shallowly lobed, rarely entire.
green, ovate to lanceolate, 2.7–6.6 × 0.9–2.1 mm, width 1/5–1/3 length, not concealing capsule, margins 3-lobed or entire.
green, sometimes with white base, ovate, 3–4.1 × 1.1–1.7 mm, width 1/4–1/2 length, not concealing capsule, margins entire.
sepals 1–7 mm;
petals yellow to orange proximally, yellow distally, 4–12 mm, apex acute;
stamens 20+, 3–6.5 mm, filaments monomorphic, filiform, unlobed;
styles 3–6.5 mm.
sepals 2–3 mm;
petals orange proximally, yellow distally, 2–4 mm, apex retuse or rounded;
stamens 10–30, 2–3 mm, filaments monomorphic, filiform, unlobed;
styles 2–3 mm.
narrowly cylindric, 7–32 × 1–3 mm, axillary curved to 90° at maturity, often prominently longitudinally ribbed.
cylindric or clavate, 6–15 × 2–3 mm, axillary curved to 20° at maturity, usually inconspicuously longitudinally ribbed.
10–20, in 1 row distal to mid fruit, tan, dark-mottled or not, triangular prisms, surface ±smooth under 10x magnification; recurved flap over hilum absent;
seed coat cell outer periclinal wall flat.
15–30, in 2+ rows distal to mid fruit, tan, not dark-mottled, usually irregularly polygonal, occasionally triangular prisms proximal to mid fruit, surface colliculate under 10x magnification; recurved flap over hilum absent;
seed coat cell outer periclinal wall domed, domes on seed edges less than 1/2 as tall as wide at maturity.
= 18.
= 54.
Mentzelia affinis
Mentzelia monoensis
Herbarium specimens of Mentzelia affinis are often difficult to distinguish from those of M. dispersa despite distinct evolutionary histories (J. M. Brokaw and L. Hufford 2010). Several characters, including flower size, leaf margins, and capsule surfaces, differ substantially between these species, but habitat is the most dependable diagnostic character. Verified populations of M. affinis have not been found above 1200 meters in desert habitats, and grassland populations are usually restricted to much lower elevations. Sympatric populations of M. affinis and M. dispersa have not been found, and, in areas of range overlap in southern California, M. dispersa has not been found below 1200 meters or in desert vegetation.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Mentzelia monoensis is narrowly distributed predominantly south of Mono Lake and north of Lake Crowley in Mono County, California, and is most commonly found in soils derived from the eruptions of the Mono Craters (J. M. Brokaw et al. 2015). Phylogenetic studies suggest that this hexaploid is the only allopolyploid derived from representatives of both the “Affines” and “Trachyphyta” clades (Brokaw and L. Hufford 2010b). Mentzelia monoensis is morphologically similar to sympatric populations of M. montana. However, the bracts of M. monoensis are more often unlobed and green throughout. Furthermore, seeds of M. monoensis have tan, unmottled coats that are always composed of cells that are rounded, appearing as shallow domes. In contrast, seeds of M. montana have mottled coats with cells that stand out as rough, pointed knobs along the seed edges.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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