- Source: Mentzelia aspera
Mentzelia aspera, the tropical blazingstar, is a species of flowering plant in the family Loasaceae. It is native to the subtropical and tropical New World, from Arizona to northwestern Argentina, and it has been introduced to Cape Verde. An annual reaching 75 cm (30 in), it is found in a variety of habitats, including desert scrublands and grasslands, and in riverine situations, such as arroyos and canyon bottoms, often in association with cottonwoods and willows.