Ithuriel's Spear, Triteleia laxa Family Lily (Liliaceae) Height 12-36 in. Color Blue/Purple, occas. White Flowers Trumpet shaped Blooms April-July Leaves Basal, often withered Habitat Grassy woodlands, serpentine grasslands, coastal prairies     Also called Grass-nut and Wally Basket. In Milton's Paradise Lost, Ithuriel is an angel sent by Gabriel to search for Satan. A touch from the spear carried by Ithuriel uncovers any disguise. Triteleia is Greek for "three complete"because all flower parts are in three's.[1] Somewhat similar to Elegant Brodiaea, Brodiaea elegans, which blooms later in the spring. Elegant Brodiaea can be distinguished definitively by its 3 stamens with anthers and 3 without. Ithuriel's Spear has 6 anther bearing stamens. But, most can tell the two apart visually. The blue-purple is paler in Ithuriel's Spear and the petals are glossier and come to more of a point on Brodiaea. The bulbs were gathered with a digging stick and eaten by the Karuk, Pomo, Yuki, Wailaki, Coast Miwok, and Maidu. [1] A white flower, Wild or White Hyacinth, Triteleia hyacinthina, looks similar and is related. caption: file: x - square 0" x 0" at 300 dpi - release: contact us regarding image add image to lightbox References [1] http://www.nps.gov/prsf/naturescience/ithuriels-spear.htm