Fauna
Plant

Ithuriel's Spear

Triteleia laxa

Also known as Common Triteleia, Grassnut

Ithuriel's Spear is a spring perennial with a leafless stalk supporting an open cluster of violet-blue, funnel-shaped flowers. Each flower spreads into six pointed lobes above narrow basal leaves that may fade by flowering time.

Corm WildflowerBlue FlowerGrassland Bloom
Ithuriel's Spear reference
First Light (talk) / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic; an underground corm stores energy and roots absorb seasonal soil moisture
Predators
  • Gophers
  • Voles
  • Leaf-feeding insects
ThreatsDevelopment, invasive grasses, trampling, collection, soil disturbance, and poorly timed mowing
HabitatsGrassland, open woodland, chaparral, valley slopes, coastal prairie, and vernal-pool margins
Life spanPerennial; the underground corm can produce new growth for many years
Classification
  1. FamilyAsparagaceae
  2. SpeciesTriteleia laxa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Do not dig corms or consume wild plants identified from appearance alone.
Responsible observation
  • Identify: Count six pointed lobes on flowers held in a loose umbel.
  • Look: Search open slopes without leaving established paths.
  • Protect: Leave stalks and underground corms completely intact.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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