Triteleia laxa
Ithuriel's spear, common triteleia, Common Triteleia
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Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Triteleia laxa (Ithuriel's spear) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by large blue-purple flowers with long tapered tube.
Ithuriel's spear is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central western California, and Transverse Ranges in open forests, conifer woodlands, and grasslands on clay soils at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces blue to blue-purple or white flowers in clusters with perianth 18 to 47 millimeters long, displaying gradually spreading lobes. Growing with tall scapes 10 to 70 centimeters high that are smooth or slightly rough, it emerges from underground corms. Its linear leaves reach 20 to 40 centimeters long and 4 to 25 millimeters wide, providing a slender backdrop to its distinctive flower clusters. The flower's stamens are uniquely attached at two levels, with white to bluish anthers creating an intricate floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; large blue-purple flowers with long tapered tube
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open forest, conifer or foothill woodland, grassland on clay soil
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Mendocino, Kern, Tulare, Lake, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Butte, Yuba, San Joaquin, Monterey, Shasta, Merced, Humboldt, San Bernardino, Tehama, Alameda, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Del Norte, Fresno, Santa Barbara, Napa, Marin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne, Amador, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Mariposa, San Francisco, Colusa, Madera, Los Angeles, Solano, Yolo, El Dorado, Nevada, San Benito, Calaveras, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Siskiyou, Glenn, Trinity, Sierra, San Diego
Outside California: southwestern Oregon. Highly variable, more study needed
Bloom period
Triteleia laxa blooms Mar-Jun.
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 laxa native to California?
Yes. Triteleia laxa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Triteleia laxa bloom?
Triteleia laxa blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Triteleia laxa grow?
Triteleia laxa occurs in Mendocino, Kern, Tulare, Lake, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Butte, Yuba and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Triteleia laxa belong to?
Triteleia laxa is in the Themidaceae family, genus Triteleia.
What habitat does Triteleia laxa grow in?
Triteleia laxa grows in Common. Open forest, conifer or foothill woodland, grassland on clay soil.
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.