Triteleia ixioides / Prettyface / Themidaceae

Whew, look at those anthers! While blue tends to be the most common color round these parts, they can also be found in a more muted white, to cream to yellow. Topping out at just under a meter tall (though usually much shorter), these often dainty flowers hold the common name of “Prettyface” which, I must say, is absolutely appropriate. The color-scheme is on point!

A common sight along our Sierra Nevadan forests, one first takes note of the stunning golden flowers with a bold purple-brown stripe. Open and flat with broad petal segments, they have six anthers surrounded by a tall crown-like structure of pointed appendages. These rise from a 10-80 cm tall, generally glabrous (smooth) scape which is cushioned by a ground-hugging cluster of one to several leaves.

Among the various sub-species, they can be found from roughly sea level all the way up to nearly 2500m. They tend to enjoy open woodlands or lightly shaded slopes.

For humans, the young seedpods are utilized as a potherb. The corm (enlarged underground stems) can be eaten raw or cooked and, although small, they are rich in starch and can be used similarly to potatoes. Often, these corms have bulblets which should be spread whenever harvesting.