Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by distinctive single leaf character.
Triteleia unifolia is a California native perennial found in northern California and central Sierra Nevada in conifer forests with clay and granite soils at elevations of 600 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with spreading perianth lobes 9 to 12 millimeters long arranged on smooth or slightly rough scapes. Growing with a single leaf 10 to 20 centimeters long and flower stalks 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges gracefully from underground corms. Its solitary leaf is slender and elongated, providing a delicate backdrop for the pale yellow blossoms. The flower's cream or yellow anthers and short straight or curved filament tips add subtle complexity to its elegant floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinctive single leaf character
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, clay, granite soils
Elevation: 600-2000 m
California counties: Amador, Placer, Butte, Calaveras, Mariposa, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Shasta, Yuba, Nevada
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia 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. unifolia native to California?
Yes. Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia bloom?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia grow?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia occurs in Amador, Placer, Butte, Calaveras, Mariposa, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 600-2000 m.
What plant family does Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia belong to?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia is in the Themidaceae family, genus Triteleia.
What habitat does Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia grow in?
Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia grows in Conifer forest, clay, granite soils.
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.