#themidaceae

Brodiaea californica

Like their close relatives in the genus Triteleia, the bulbs in Brodiaea are widespread in California, making splendid displays in blues and purples in late spring. With their foliage withering even as they bloom, they will remain dormant until the autumn rains bring forth a new crop of leaves.

Triteleia laxa

Triteleia is a genus of bulbs closely related to Brodiaea, and both of these are common in California. Their family placement has been shifted, since they used to be put in the family Themidaceae, but now they are considered to be a part of the Asparagus Family, in the subfamily Brodiaeoideae (note the 5 vowels in a row!). As is typical of bulbs in California, Triteleia laxa goes dormant during the hot dry summers.

Triteleia ixioides

This attractive little bulb is native to California and southwestern Oregon. It belongs to the family Themidaceae, or alternatively to the subfamily Brodiaeoideae within the Asparagus Family. The genus Triteleia is closely related to Brodiaea, but most of these have flowers in the purple-blue range rather than yellow.

Brodiaea californica

There are many wonderful groups of bulbs native to California, and one of these is the genus Brodiaea. The classification of these plants has bounced around quite a bit, from the Lily Family to the Allium Family to the Asparagus Family, but now they have landed in a new family called the Themidaceae. Most of them have flowers in the white - pink - purple - blue range. Brodiaea californica grows to the north of the San Francisco Bay, and also in the northern end of the Sacramento Valley.