Brodiaea orcuttii

Orcutt's brodiaea

Family: Themidaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Orcutt's brodiaea is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern Riverside and San Diego counties in grasslands near streams and vernal pools at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate lavender to purple flowers with spreading perianth lobes 17 to 32 millimeters long. Growing with a slender scape 8 to 25 centimeters tall, it emerges from a bulb-like underground structure. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, emerging from the base of the plant. The flower's transparent perianth tube splits open as the fruit develops, revealing distinctive linear anthers with a V-shaped notch at the tip.

Habitat: Grassland near streams, vernal pools

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: < 1600 m

Bioregions: PR (s Riverside, San Diego cos.).

California counties: San Diego, Riverside, Orange

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.