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Dichelostemma congestum

Dichelostemma congestum (Sm.) Kunth

Ookow, Forked-tooth Ookow

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Synonym(s): Brodiaea congesta

USDA Symbol: DICO19

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

One head of blue-violet flowers atop a long stalk with few grass-like leaves at base.

This wildflower blooms as grasses mature and begin to brown, signaling the onset of summer. Roundtooth Ookow (D. multiflorum), found from southern Oregon south to central California, has round ends on the three scales projecting from the center of the flower. Blue Dicks (D. capitatum), found from southern Oregon south to northwestern Mexico and east to southern Utah and southern New Mexico, has six stamens hidden within the flower tube and no projecting scales.

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Flower scape up to about 3 feet tall.
Fruit: Seeds black, sharply angled.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Violet
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CA , OR , WA
Native Distribution: Western Washington south to central California.
Native Habitat: Open, grassy hillsides.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 62 - Burke Herbarium Image Collection (2020) University of Washington
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Dichelostemma congestum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Dichelostemma congestum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dichelostemma congestum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-11
Research By: TWC Staff

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