Desert stingbush Desert stingbush

Mentzelia urens Parry ex A. Gray, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 10: 71. 1874, not Vellozo 1831

Subshrubs, moundlike (wider than tall). Leaves: blade usually unlobed, sometimes inconspicuously lobed. Pedicels (fruiting) less than 3 cm, usually curved to nodding. Flowers radially symmetric; corolla funnelform, petals connate 5 mm, 1-colored, white to cream, spatulate, to 45 mm; stamens 50+, inserted at base of corolla, included, most aggregated around style, only longer, outermost stamens spreading away from style, filaments 10–20 mm, longer than anthers. 2n = 42.

Flowering Mar–Jul. Clefts in cliffs, rocky slopes, wash margins, limestone, desert scrub; -50–2000 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah; Mexico (Baja California).

Eucnide urens is found primarily in the Mojave Desert but extends into surrounding areas. Asydates inyoensis, soft-wing flower beetles of the family Melyridae, have been found in flowers of E. urens; they collect pollen on dorsal setae and likely serve as pollinators.