Triteleia laxa aka Ithuriel's Spear

Triteleia laxa, also known as Ithuriel's spear, common triteleia, and grassnut, is a triplet lily native to California and occasionally found in southwestern Oregon. This half-hardy perennial grows from a corm and produces linear basal leaves up to 40cm long. In early summer, it blooms with loose clusters of funnel-shaped, violet blue flowers, each with a darker stripe along the center of its petals. The flowers open as the leaves die down and are held on stems that can reach up to 60cm high. With its tubular flowers opening into a sharply six-pointed star, Triteleia laxa adds a touch of beauty to gardens and landscapes. Additionally, the corm of this plant is edible and can be used similarly to potatoes. The common name "Ithuriel's spear" is derived from the angel Ithuriel in Milton's Paradise Lost.