Brodiaea appendiculata
Appendage brodiaea
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Brodiaea appendiculata (Appendage brodiaea) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by forked filament appendages.
Appendage brodiaea is a California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada foothills, eastern Great Valley, and historically in northern Coast Ranges and San Francisco Bay Area in grasslands and open woodlands at elevations of 8 to 335 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces striking violet flowers with recurved tips, the outer perianth lobes 4.5 to 10.5 millimeters wide and inner lobes 6.5 to 10.5 millimeters wide. Growing with a slender scape 10 to 45 centimeters tall, it features distinctive white staminodes that lean toward the stamens with wavy, partially inrolled margins. Its flowers have unique thread-like forked appendages at the anther bases and a translucent cylindric perianth tube that splits open in fruit. The plant emerges from gravelly clay soils, creating delicate violet blooms that stand out in spring grassland landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; diagnostic forked filament appendages
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, open woodland, gravelly clay soil
Elevation: 8-335 m
California counties: Amador, Merced, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Sacramento, Stanislaus, San Francisco, Placer, Madera, Napa, Calaveras, San Mateo, Sutter, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Yuba, Fresno
Bloom period
Brodiaea appendiculata blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Triteleia: Count the stamens: Brodiaea has 3 fertile stamens, Triteleia has 6.; vs Dipterostemon: Brodiaea has straight flower stalks; Dipterostemon stalks curve or bend.; vs Dichelostemma: Brodiaea stalks stay straight and upright; Dichelostemma stalks curve, twist, or twine.; vs Sisyrinchium: Brodiaea flowers are tubular; Sisyrinchium flowers are flat and star-shaped.; vs Scilla: Brodiaea has tubular flowers with visible stamens inside; Scilla has bell-shaped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brodiaea appendiculata native to California?
Yes. Brodiaea appendiculata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Brodiaea appendiculata bloom?
Brodiaea appendiculata blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Brodiaea appendiculata grow?
Brodiaea appendiculata occurs in Amador, Merced, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Sacramento, Stanislaus, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of 8-335 m.
What plant family does Brodiaea appendiculata belong to?
Brodiaea appendiculata is in the Themidaceae family, genus Brodiaea.
What habitat does Brodiaea appendiculata grow in?
Brodiaea appendiculata grows in Grassland, open woodland, gravelly clay soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.