About Triteleia laxa Benth.
Triteleia laxa Benth., previously classified as Brodiaea laxa, is a triplet lily with several common names: Ithuriel's spear, common triteleia, and grassnut. It is native to California, where it grows as a common wildflower, and is occasionally found in southwestern Oregon. This plant produces a tall, leafless stem that ends in a cluster of smaller stalks; each small stalk holds a single purple or blue flower. The flower is tubular, and opens into a distinct six-pointed star shape. Triteleia laxa grows from a corm, which is edible and comparable to the potato in both flavor and uses. Its most widely used common name, Ithuriel's spear, refers to the angel Ithuriel from John Milton's Paradise Lost. For cultivation, this species is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10.
