Common names:
Pretty face, golden brodiaea
Family:
Scientific name:
Triteleia ixioides
Main flower color:
Range:
California and south Oregon (Jackson County)
Height:
Up to 18 inches
Habitat:
Open woodland, mountain slopes, grassland
Leaves:
Narrow, linear, grass-like, up to 16 inches long; normally just 1 or 2 per plant
Season:
March to August
The yellow flowers of triteleia ixioides are quite striking; they have six narrow, lance-shaped tepals with a lengthwise brown, purple or green stripe down the middle, while at the center are a pistil and six short stamens, projecting forwards from a cup-shaped base. The tepals may open only partly, or fully, curving back towards the stem. Flowers form a rounded cluster (umbel), joined to the stem by short stalks (pedicels). Tepals are the same color above and below, and may have a purplish tint. There are five varieties, differing in the flower characteristics; two are found only along the California coast, well separated from the inland species.
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