Ithuriel'S Spear

triteleia laxa

Ithuriel's Spear (Triteleia laxa) is a delightful wildflower native to California and Oregon. Emerging in late spring, it lights up grassy meadows, open woodlands, and coastal scrub with its beautiful, starry clusters of purple-blue blossoms. Named after the angel Ithuriel in John Milton's Paradise Lost—whose spear could expose deceit with a touch—this plant stands upright and proud, bearing an umbrella-like cluster of funnel-shaped flowers on a slender, leafless stem. Historically, the small, starchy corms of this plant were a valuable food source for Native American tribes, who roasted or boiled them for a sweet, potato-like flavor. Today, it is highly valued by gardeners for its drought tolerance and its ability to attract vital native pollinators.

Habitat: Typically found in grasslands, open oak woodlands, and chaparral habitats throughout California and southwestern Oregon, often growing in clay-heavy soils.

Appearance

This herbaceous perennial features a tall, slender, leafless stalk rising 10 to 70 centimeters from an underground corm. At the top of the stalk sits a terminal, open, umbrella-like cluster of 10 to 40 funnel-shaped flowers. The blossoms range in color from pale violet-blue to deep purple, and occasionally white, each featuring six tepals with visible darker mid-veins running down the center. Its leaves are long, narrow, and grass-like, usually numbering only one or two, which often wither by the time the plant begins to bloom, leaving the starburst of flowers standing solo.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyAsparagaceaeGenusTriteleia

Ithuriel'S Spear

Interesting facts

Indigenous peoples of California, such as the Miwok and Maidu, historically harvested the underground corms, cooking them in earth ovens to yield a sweet, nutritious food source.

Its long-lasting blooms and sturdy stems make it an exceptional cut flower, often lasting over a week in a vase.

The common name 'Ithuriel's Spear' is a reference to the angel Ithuriel from John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost.

Special abilities

The plant stores energy in underground corms that are protected from wildfires, allowing it to quickly resprout and bloom abundantly in post-burn environments.

To survive the hot, dry Mediterranean summers of its native range, it dies back completely to the ground, conserving water and energy until the autumn rains return.

The bright purple-blue, tubular blossoms are shaped perfectly to guide long-tongued bees and butterflies, ensuring highly efficient pollination.

Measurements & details

Length: 10-70 cm
Lifespan: 3-10 years

Diet & Feeding

As a photosynthetic plant, it generates its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, while absorbing essential minerals from the soil.

Primary Foods

Sunlight
Water
Carbon dioxide
Soil nutrients

Ecological connections

mutualism

Yellow-faced Bumble Bee

Bombus vosnesenskii

Visited by bumble bees for nectar and pollen, aiding in pollination.

eaten by

Black-tailed Deer

Odocoileus hemionus columbianus

The young foliage and emerging flowering stems are occasionally grazed by deer.

eaten by

Botta's Pocket Gopher

Thomomys bottae

Gophers burrow underground and consume the nutrient-rich starch-filled corms.

Traits

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Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

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Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Ithuriel'S Spear?

The easiest way to identify Ithuriel'S Spear is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Ithuriel'S Spear?

10-70 cm

How long does Ithuriel'S Spear live?

3-10 years

What does Ithuriel'S Spear eat?

As a photosynthetic plant, it generates its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, while absorbing essential minerals from the soil.

Where is Ithuriel'S Spear usually found?

Typically found in grasslands, open oak woodlands, and chaparral habitats throughout California and southwestern Oregon, often growing in clay-heavy soils.