About Mentzelia gracilenta (Nutt.) Torr. & A.Gray
Mentzelia gracilenta is an annual herb that grows an erect, greenish stem that can sometimes reach over 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) in maximum height. Its leaves are deeply divided into comblike lobes. The longest leaves, located in the basal rosette, grow up to 13 centimeters long, while leaves positioned higher on the stem are smaller in size. The inflorescence is a cluster of flowers, each with five shiny yellow petals marked with red dots at their bases; the petals measure roughly one to two centimeters long. The fruit is a narrow, curving utricle that holds many tiny, angular seeds. This plant is endemic to California, and is found only in the Southern California Coast Ranges and Western Transverse Ranges of Central and Southern California. Most of its native range falls within the Los Padres National Forest. It grows in grasslands, oak woodlands, and rugged mountain habitats, including areas with serpentine soils and rocky slopes. It occurs at elevations ranging from 20 to 1,700 meters (66 to 5,577 feet). It intergrades with Mentzelia ravenii, Mentzelia montana, and Mentzelia veatchiana.
