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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: PerennialHabit: 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 , VioletBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: CA , OR , WANative 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 WashingtonWebref 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 PlantsFNA: Find Dichelostemma congestum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dichelostemma congestum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-04-11Research By: TWC Staff