Triteleia ixioides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Triteleia ixioides |
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| ssp. scabra | |
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Brodiaea lutea |
Triteleia ixioides, also known as prettyface or golden star, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to a group of plants called monocotyledons, which have seeds with one leaf. This plant is part of the Triteleia family.
Contents
Where Prettyface Grows
This lovely plant naturally grows in northern and central California. You can also find it in southwestern Oregon. It likes to live in forests with cone-bearing trees, both near the coast and further inland. It also grows in other natural areas.
What Prettyface Looks Like
The prettyface plant is a perennial wildflower. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows from a special underground stem called a corm, which looks a bit like a bulb.
Stems and Leaves
The plant usually has one or two leaves that grow from its base. These leaves can be quite long, up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches). They are about 1.5 centimeters (half an inch) wide.
A tall, straight stem grows up from the plant. This stem can reach up to 80 centimeters (about 31 inches) tall.
The Flowers
At the top of the stem, you'll find a cluster of several flowers. This cluster is called an inflorescence. It looks like an umbel, which means the flower stalks all come from one point, like the ribs of an umbrella. Each flower sits on its own small stalk, called a pedicel, which can be up to 7 centimeters (about 3 inches) long.
The flowers themselves can be different sizes, from one to almost three centimeters (about 0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. They are usually pale to bright yellow. Sometimes, they can even be white with a hint of purple.
Each flower has six petal-like parts called tepals. These tepals often have darker lines down the middle, which can be green, brown, or purple. The flower parts form a funnel shape. They might open up flat or curve slightly backward.
Inside the flower, there are six stamens. These are the parts that produce pollen. They are joined together to form a tube that sticks out from the flower. The stamens have wide, flat parts called filaments and small tips called anthers. These anthers can be whitish, yellowish, or even blue.
Types of Prettyface
There are about five different types, or subspecies, of Triteleia ixioides. Each one has its own unique features:
- Triteleia ixioides subsp. anilina
- Triteleia ixioides subsp. cookii (also known as Cook's prettyface)
- Triteleia ixioides subsp. ixioides (called golden brodiaea)
- Triteleia ixioides subsp. scabra
- Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia
Images for kids
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Triteleia ixioides subsp. analina, plant (eastern High Sierras)
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Triteleia ixioides subsp. unifolia
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Triteleia ixioides subsp. analina, flowers, showing blue anthers, fused tube, and brown-striped, yellow flowers and buds
