Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides
Golden brodiaea, Golden Brodiaea
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides (Golden brodiaea) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by gold-yellow flowers with forked filament appendages.
Golden brodiaea is a California native perennial found in central Coast Ranges, southwestern San Francisco Bay, and southern Coast Ranges in closed-cone pine forest and foothill woodland at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces gold-yellow flowers with ascending to spreading perianth lobes 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with a tall scape 20 to 80 centimeters high, it emerges from a slender base with smooth or slightly rough surfaces. Its narrow leaves reach 10 to 40 centimeters long, providing a delicate backdrop to the distinctive golden flower clusters. The flower's stamens feature cream or yellow anthers with straight to slightly curved appendages, adding subtle complexity to its elegant form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; gold-yellow flowers with forked filament appendages
Habitat and range
Habitat: Closed-cone-pine forest, foothill woodland
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, El Dorado, San Benito, Plumas, Kern, Shasta, Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Placer, Mariposa, Mono, Alpine, Mendocino, Alameda, Butte, Tuolumne
Bloom period
Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides 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. ixioides native to California?
Yes. Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides bloom?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides grow?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides occurs in Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, El Dorado, San Benito and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides belong to?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides is in the Themidaceae family, genus Triteleia.
What habitat does Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides grow in?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides grows in Closed-cone-pine forest, foothill woodland.
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.