Single Record

Participant Info

Species
Mentzelia speciosa [Mentzelia sinuata] [Mentzelia aurea] [Nuttallia sinuata]
Family
Loasaceae
CommonName
jeweled blazingstar
Presence
YES
Status
native
EarliestDate
1984
LatestDate
2026
Ecosystem
foothill, montane
Geobotanical
SSawatch, Garitas, NCristos
Counties
Alamosa, Mineral, Saguache
Passes
South
WildlifePreserves
Other Localities
Comments
For Mentzelia speciosa there have been 12 records from the Watershed and about 7 locations, all in the western mountains north of La Garita, except for one collection from Farmers Creek south of Creede (Mineral Co) and another from the north Cristos near Zapata Falls (Alamosa Co). In Colorado this species is an infrequently collected Mentzelia, with occurrences largely from the Front Range. In June of 2026, the location around Farmers Creek Road (Mineraal Co, south of Creede) was searched for this species by Susan Komarek and three other botanists, and hundreds of specimens of the species were found. Note that were there not collections from Albany Co, Wyoming, the species would be endemic to Colorado. FNA says further study is needed separate (or not) M. speciosa from M. sinuata.