Loasaceae

Loasa Family

Blazingstars

***

FAMILY: Loasa family (Loasaceae) – Mentzelia genus.

SPECIES: #1 yellowcomet blazingstar (Mentzelia affinis Greene). #2 whitestem blazingstar (Mentzelia albicaulis (Dougl. ex Hook.) Dougl. ex Torr. & A. Gray). #3 united or ventana blazingstar (Mentzelia congesta Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray). #4 bushy, scattered, or Nevada blazingstar (Mentzelia dispersa S. Watson). #5 whitebract blazingstar (Mentzelia involucrata S. Watson). #6 smoothstem blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis (Hook.) Torr. & A. Gray). #7 multiflower or dune blazingstar (Mentzelia multiflora (Nutt.) A. Gray). #8 bullet, desert, golden, or dwarf blazingstar (Mentzelia pumila Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray). #9 Veatch’s blazingstar (Mentzelia veatchiana Kellogg).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Seeds of species listed above can be gathered and made into porridge or seed butter. Blazingstars (also called stickleafs) produce cup-like or cylinder-like capsules of various sizes. Each capsule contains numerous seeds, and each plant produces numerous capsules. Seed characteristics are important for identification. Blazingstars are a highly diversified group of plants well adapted to desert climates. Some species are much easier to utilize as food than others, and a few species may have been cultivated, or at least encouraged to grow near villages. Most of the following notes consist of general information rather than experience-based accounts. They cover where and when blazingstars might be found, seed features, and other things of interest to foragers. It’s likely that more species of the Mentzelia genus have edible seeds. However, this statement could not be verified and at least one species, ten-petal blazingstar (M. decapetala) of the Great Plains, is known to accumulate selenium. Many rare species occur in the genus. The nine species covered here are common and widespread.

Yellowcomet blazingstar (M. affinis) grows across the deserts of southern California to the southern tip of Nevada to southeastern Arizona. It blooms anytime from February to May. Seeds can be expected from April to July. The Kawaiisu Indians of southern California harvested the seeds of this species. The seeds are about 1-2 mm wide and prism-shaped with grooves on the angles. Surfaces are flat and relatively smooth. Yellowcomet blazingstar is a desert species associated with creosote communities.

Whitestem blazingstar (M. albicaulis) grows throughout the western United States over a wide range of elevations. It blooms anytime from March to September in open desert, chaparral, sagebrush, or juniper communities. Cahuilla, Kawaiisu, Havasupai, Hopi, Paiute and other Indians harvested the seeds of this species. These seeds were considered preferable to those of other species. Whitestem blazingstar seeds are grain-shaped with irregular angles, depressions, or ridges. Surfaces are covered with pointed bumps. Gravy, butter, flour, bread, and porridge were commonly made from these seeds. In the Great Basin, whitestem blazingstar seeds were a staple food item.

United blazingstar (M. congesta) grows primarily in California and Nevada at mid elevations. It typically blooms from April to July in open sagebrush, juniper, pinyon, and pine communities. The seeds are grain-shaped with well-defined angles or ridges. Surfaces are covered with rounded bumps. The Kawaiisu Indians of southern California harvested the seeds of this species.

Bushy blazingstar (M. dispersa) is a complex of several (currently 4) integrating varieties spanning the western United States. It blooms from May to August over a wide range of elevations. Like most species, it’s well suited to barren, sandy, and rocky soils. The seeds are about 0.7-1.7 mm long and prism-shaped with grooves on the angles. Surfaces are flat, relatively smooth, and often shiny. Native Americans of southern California harvested the seeds of this species.

Whitebract blazingstar (M. involucrata) thrives in the harshest terrain the Southwest has to offer—southwestern Arizona and southeastern California, a region commonly called the Colorado Desert. It often grows along washes at the bases of mountains. Seeds of this species are grain-shaped, wrinkled, and yellowish-brown with bone-white coatings. They’re soft enough to eat without any processing required. Even the coatings are soft. Gathering and processing the seeds is easy. Based on those that I sampled, I would rank them among the top 10 best wild foods of the Colorado Desert. The flavor and aroma are reminiscent of pancakes and eggs. These seeds make a fine breakfast and could easily be the main ingredient for any recipe. Boiling causes the seeds to expand and appear less wrinkled. The resulting broth acquires a slightly alkaline character. Toasting is another good option. The seeds are moderately burn resistant and become pleasantly crunchy after toasting. They’re suitable as granola and delicious sprinkled on top of yogurt, ice cream, or fruit salads. Seeds can mature as early as May and gathering a supply couldn’t be much easier: simply pour them out of the cup-like capsules. Breaking the cups apart frees any seeds trapped near the bottom. The cups dry in an upright position. This orientation along with the stiff stems prevents the wind from dispersing the seeds, thus ensuring that a supply of seeds will be available for some time. Wearing lightweight leather gloves is recommended when gathering these seeds, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Whitebract blazingstar is a quality wild food well worth the effort of harvesting.

Smooth blazingstar (M. laevicaulis) grows throughout the Great Basin and in similar habitats of the surrounding areas. It’s beautiful in bloom, and blooms anytime from May to October. Overlooking this plant is unlikely. Seeds can be expected from July to November, and a few may persist into winter. Like most species, smooth blazingstar is well adapted to barren soils. It’s commonly seen along roads, and along washes flowing off mountains. The seeds are flat, lens-shaped, and winged. In terms of edibility, they’re very similar to those of bullet and dune blazingstars described below. Gathering and processing techniques are also about the same.

Dune blazingstar (M. multiflora) is found from Arizona to Texas and northward to Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. It’s virtually identical to bullet blazingstar described below, except for having more rounded-obtuse petal tips and slightly shorter capsules. In the past, it was classified as a variety of M. pumila. Seeds of both species are flat, lens-shaped, and winged. Dune blazingstar blooms anytime from April to September. As its name indicates, it prefers sandy habitats, but it’s not restricted to sandy habitats.

Bullet blazingstar (M. pumila) has the same range as dune blazingstar given above. These species look very similar and can be used in the same way. Seeds of bullet blazingstar are lens-shaped, winged, relatively small, somewhat papery, light tan, and similar to wheat bran. Lightly toasting them produces an aroma nearly identical to pancakes. This aroma is more appealing than the flavor. Although the flavor is good, it’s certainly not as good as pancakes. Numerous seeds are contained within dry, tan, papery capsules. Each plant produces numerous capsules. Gathering the capsules is easy, but isolating pure seeds is tedious. Capsules should be fully dry before harvesting. Otherwise, they stubbornly resist crumbling. Even when fully dry, they retain a flexible quality. Always check the seeds for signs of infestation such as discoloration, holes, and webs. Bullet blazingstar blooms from May to August. Overall, seeds of bullet blazingstar are a good resource.

Veatch’s blazingstar (M. veatchiana) grows from Arizona to Idaho and westward to California and Oregon. It prefers dry, open, barren areas in shadscale, sagebrush, pinyon, and juniper communities. Flowers bloom from March to July, and seeds mature from May to September. The seeds are grain-shaped and irregularly angled. Surfaces are bumpy. The Kawaiisu Indians utilized the seeds of this species as food. 

NOTES: My experiences with blazingstars are limited to a few species, including: #5, #6, #7, and #8. Although few plants require seeds to identify, blazingstars are among those few. Attempting to identify a blazingstar without a seed will not go well! Flowers are also required and are often withered when the seeds are ready, which creates an obvious problem: How do you observe something that’s not there? This is part of what makes blazingstars so difficult to identify (along with the utterly trivial differences between certain species). All the parts necessary for identification may not be available at the same time. To overcome this problem, botanists take notes about various features, tag the plant, and return to it when the required parts are ready. In some cases, this could be weeks or even months later. Foragers can identify withered blazingstars—a potential source of seeds—by observing the leaves and overall form. Blazingstar leaves typically have a rough texture, much like hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro® brand fasteners). They also tend to be long, narrow, and pinnately lobed. Their tendency to stick to clothing inspired the name “stick-leaf.” Sculpted seeds inside cup-shaped or tube-shaped capsules positioned on small plants with such leaves strongly suggests blazingstars.

IDENTIFICATION: Approximately 60-65 species of the Mentzelia genus currently inhabit the United States, primarily in the western two-thirds. Blazingstars are difficult to identify and seeds are required for the process.

Description of blazingstars (the Mentzelia genus): FORM annual to perennial plants or small shrubs; STEMS often whitish-tan, shiny, and peeling; LEAVES simple; alternate; blades various; margins entire, toothed, or lobed; surfaces covered with rough hairs (scabrous); FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary inferior, and arranged individually or in clusters; usually subtended by bracts; calyx tubes bonded to the ovaries; calyx lobes 5, free; petals 5-10, free, and often yellow; styles 1; stigmas 3-lobed; stamens 20-100, the outer ones often petal-like; FRUITS capsules with numerous seeds; SEEDS of many different shapes including flat, lens-shaped, prism-shaped, and irregularly angled; with or without wings; throughout the Southwest; blooming in spring and summer.

REFERENCES: #1 yellowcomet blazingstar (Mentzelia affinis): seeds Moerman (p. 155). #2 whitestem blazingstar (Mentzelia albicaulis): seeds Moerman (p. 155), Murphey (p. 27), and Rhode (pp. 140-141). #3 united blazingstar (Mentzelia congesta): seeds Moerman (p. 155). #4 bushy blazingstar (Mentzelia dispersa): seeds Moerman (p. 156). #5 whitebract blazingstar (Mentzelia involucrata): seeds Moerman (p. 156). #6 smoothstem blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis): seeds Moerman (p. 156) and Murphey (p. 27). #7 multiflower blazingstar (Mentzelia multiflora): seeds Moerman (p. 156). #8 bullet blazingstar (Mentzelia pumila): seeds Museum of New Mexico (p. 36). #9 Veatch’s blazingstar (Mentzelia veatchiana): seeds Moerman (p. 155).