Triteleia ixioides
Golden brodiaea
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Triteleia ixioides (Golden brodiaea) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family.
Golden brodiaea is a California native perennial found in varied bioregions across open grasslands and oak woodlands at elevations of 10 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces straw-colored or gold-yellow flowers with white and purple undertones, typically 12 to 27 millimeters long with distinctive ascending to reflexed lobes. Growing with tall scapes 10 to 80 centimeters high, it emerges from slender underground bulbs with smooth stems that are occasionally rough near the base. Its leaves are linear and narrow, typically 1 to 2 per plant, measuring 10 to 50 centimeters long and 3 to 15 millimeters wide. The flower's stamens are uniquely arranged with forked, pointed appendages and white, cream, yellow, or blue anthers that cluster close to the pistil.
Habitat and range
California counties: Fresno, Monterey, Kern, San Benito, El Dorado, Tulare, Plumas, Nevada, Santa Cruz, Colusa, San Luis Obispo, Mono, Los Angeles, Tuolumne, Butte, Madera, Placer, Amador, Sierra, Yuba, Mariposa, Siskiyou, Alpine, Calaveras, San Mateo, Yolo, Shasta
How to tell it apart
vs Brodiaea: Triteleia has six fertile stamens; Brodiaea has only three fertile stamens plus three white petal-like staminodes.; vs Dipterostemon: Triteleia has tubular flowers; Dipterostemon flowers open wide and spreading.; vs Allium: Triteleia has no onion smell; Allium smells like onion when crushed.; vs Bloomeria: Triteleia has tubular flowers; Bloomeria has spreading golden stars with a nectar cup.; vs Muilla: Triteleia flowers form clear tubes; Muilla petals spread wide and nearly separate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Triteleia ixioides native to California?
Yes. Triteleia ixioides is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Triteleia ixioides grow?
Triteleia ixioides occurs in Fresno, Monterey, Kern, San Benito, El Dorado, Tulare, Plumas, Nevada and other counties.
What plant family does Triteleia ixioides belong to?
Triteleia ixioides is in the Themidaceae family, genus Triteleia.
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.