Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina
Pretty face, Pretty Face
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina (Pretty face) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by yellow flowers with distinctive forked filament appendages.
Pretty face is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada in conifer forest edges, often in moist gravel or sand at elevations of 600 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces distinctive yellow flowers that dry to a bluish tone, with spreading perianth lobes longer than the flower tube. Growing with smooth scapes 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges from slender underground structures. Its leaves are grass-like, measuring 10 to 25 centimeters long and emerging from the base of the plant. Delicate flower filaments with blue or cream-colored anthers add to its intricate floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; yellow flowers with distinctive forked filament appendages
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest edges, often in moist gravel or sand
Elevation: 600-3000 m
California counties: Amador, Alpine, Nevada, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Mono, Fresno, Plumas, Calaveras, Placer, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Butte, Tulare, Shasta, Modoc, Madera, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Sierra, Los Angeles, Tehama, Inyo
Bloom period
Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina blooms May-Jul.
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 subsp. anilina native to California?
Yes. Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina bloom?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina grow?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina occurs in Amador, Alpine, Nevada, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Mono, Fresno, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of 600-3000 m.
What plant family does Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina belong to?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina is in the Themidaceae family, genus Triteleia.
What habitat does Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina grow in?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina grows in Conifer forest edges, often in moist gravel or sand.
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.