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Flaigg, Norman G. Flaigg, Norman G.

Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. pauciflorum

Dichelostemma capitatum (Benth.) Alph. Wood ssp. pauciflorum (Torr.) G. Keator

Little Bluedicks, Little Blue Dicks, Covena, Grass Nuts, Brodiaea, Desert Hyacinth, Few-flowered Covena, Hahd, Papago Lily, Purplehead, Wild Hyacinth

Synonym(s): Brodiaea pulchella var. pauciflora, Dichelostemma pulchellum var. pauciflorum

USDA Symbol: DICAP

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Terrestrial, perennial forb. Plant grows from a corm producing few, narrow leaves and naked flower scapes. Usually 2-5 flowers borne in conspicuously bracted umbels. Flowers blue-violet, short-tubular, campanulate with six perianth lobes.

This range of this subspecies of Dichelostemma capitatum extends farther east and south than that of D. capitatum ssp. capitatum reaching New Mexico and Baja California. The bracts of this taxon are generally whitish with purple streaks.

Plant Characteristics Duration: Perennial

Habit: Herb

Root Type: Tuberous

Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Leaf Complexity: Simple

Leaf Shape: Linear

Leaf Venation: Parallel

Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous

Leaf Margin: Entire

Leaf Apex: Acute

Leaf Texture: Smooth

Breeding System: Flowers

Inflorescence: Terminal ,

Size Notes: Flowering

Leaf: Green

Flower: Petals 6

Fruit: Black

Size Class: 1-3 ft.

TuberousLinearSmoothFlowers Bisexual Terminal , Umbel Flowering stem 12-30.GreenPetals 6Black1-3 ft.

Bloom Information Bloom Color: Blue , Purple , Violet

Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Bloom Notes: (Jan) early Feb to mid Jun (Jul-Sep)



Distribution USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , UT

Native Distribution: Southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, western New Mexico, Baja California.

Native Habitat: Rocky, sandy or gravelly soil on mesas, arroyos, canyons, ridges and mountains.

Southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, western New Mexico, Baja California.Rocky, sandy or gravelly soil on mesas, arroyos, canyons, ridges and mountains.

Growing Conditions Water Use: Low

Light Requirement: Sun

Soil Moisture: Dry

Drought Tolerance: High

Heat Tolerant: yes

Soil Description: This species grows in a wide variety of soil conditions including sandy, gravelly, rocky, loamy, silty, cindery, rocky clay and clay soils.

Conditions Comments: Prefers sandy, rocky soils on mesas, buttes and exposed hillsides in the desert Southwest.



Benefit Use Ornamental: Interesting in a xeric garden bed.

Use Food:

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Fragrant Flowers: yes

Interesting in a xeric garden bed. Native Americans harvested and ate the corms.yesyes

Propagation Propagation Material: Root Division , Seeds

Description: May be propagated by

Seed Collection: Seed should be collected when black and fully ripe.

Root Division , SeedsMay be propagated by corm offsets or seeds.Seed should be collected when black and fully ripe.