About Mentzelia multiflora (Nutt.) A.Gray
Mentzelia multiflora grows to 0.61 to 0.76 meters (2 to 2.5 feet) tall, with shiny white stems and many branches. Its bright green leaves are sticky, covered in hairs that hold tiny barbs. The flowers are roughly 5 centimeters (2.0 inches) in diameter, yellow, and usually have ten petals. They open in late afternoon and close in the morning. The flowers are hermaphroditic, and the plant blooms from March to October. It is a short-lived species that does not survive longer than three years. This species is native to the western United States and northwestern Mexico. Its distribution ranges from Montana and North Dakota in the Great Plains, south to Texas and Southern California, and extends into the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua. It prefers dry, sandy, well-drained soil, requires full direct sunlight, and does not grow in shaded areas. Native Americans, most notably the Navajo people, use this plant medicinally. It has been used to treat toothache, to act as a diuretic, and its roots and leaves have been used to treat tuberculosis. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant, used as a wildflower in specialty gardens.
