Veatch's stickleaf (Mentzelia veatchiana) on a dry Peavine slope near Reno, Nevada
Veatch's Stickleaf

Veatch's Stickleaf, north of the East Keystone Trailhead, Peavine Mountain foothills (April 17, 2022)

The picture shows a flowering plant of Veatch's stickleaf (Mentzelia veatchiana) next to the Fisticuffs Trail in the foothills of the Peavine Mountain near Reno in Nevada. Veatch's stickleaf—also written Veatch's stick-leaf and otherwise known as Veatch's blazingstar—is a plant species of the Loasa family (Loasaceae) native to the western United States and northwestern Mexico. Veatch's stickleaf begins to bloom between March and July, depending on elevation. Flowers are formed of five satiny yellow petals, which are deep orange at the base. The stem and the thick leaves are covered with white hairs [1,2].

What's in the name?
Steven Veatch writes in a blog post that, when the species, which is now known as Veatch's stickleaf or Veatch's blazingstar, was discovered and described by scientists in the second half of the 19th century, it was named to honor mining engineer Andrew Allen Veatch (1832-1872). The latter was a son of Dr. John Allen Veatch, a surgeon, surveyor, and scientist. The ancestors of Steven Veatch rose to fame by being honored for their work across disciplines including mining, engineering, politics, medicine and botany. In addition to the scientific names of plant species memorizing the pioneering Veatch family, the borate mineral veatchite was named for John Allen Veatch [3].

References and further reading

[1] Laird R. Blackwell. Tahoe Wildflowers. A Month-by-Month Guide to Wildflowers in the Tahoe Basin and Surrounding Areas. A Falcon Guide, Morris Book Publishing, LLC, 2007;page 27.
[2] Mentzelia Veatchiana, Veatch's Stickleaf. The American Southwest. URL: https://www.americansouthwest.net/plants/wildflowers/mentzelia-veatchiana.html (accessed: April 18, 2022).
[3] Steven Veatch. Dr. John Allen Veatch: A Wayfaring Pioneer in Science and Politics. Colorado Earth Science Blog. URL: http://coloradoearthscience.blogspot.com/2013/03/dr-john-allen-veatch-wayfaring-pioneer.html (accessed: April 18, 2022).


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