Triteleia
(from treis, three, and teleios, complete; alluding to the perfect ternary arrangements of the parts of the flower). Triplet Lily. ORD. Liliaceae. A genus consisting of about nine species of half-hardy, American, bulbous plants, now included, by Bentham and Hooker, under Brodioea. Stamens affixed in the tube or throat, biseriate; filaments filiform, all bearing anthers. The species best-known to gardeners are here described; they are often confused with Milla. All thrive in a rich, well-drained soil, in sunny positions. Propagated by offsets, and by seeds. T. uniflora is now and then planted amongst short grass; but, although very pretty for a season or two, it does not permanently hold its own under such conditions. It forms a good bulbous plant for pots, flowering profusely in early spring. The flowers open in bright, and remain nearly or quite closed in dull, weather. T. aurea (golden). fl., perianth yellow, five to six lines long, the segments green-striped, oblong-spathulate, slightly spreading; spathe valves two, connate at base; umbels two to six flowered; scapes one to three, erect, 2in. to 4in. long. April. l. six to eight, filiform, 3in. to 4in. long. Bulb whitish, tunicated. Monte Video, 1838. (Ref. B. 42.) T. conspicua (conspicuous). A variety of T. uniflora. T. laxa (loose).* Ithuriel's Spear. fl., perianth blue, funnel shaped, 1 1/4in. to 1 1/2in. long, the segments lanceolate, acute, erectopatent; spathe valves many; umbels eight to twenty-flowered; scapes fragile, erect, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high. July. l. nearly flat, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, two to four lines broad. Bulb globose, 1/2in. to 3/4in. thick. California, 1832. (B. R. 1685.) T. Leichtlinii (Leichtlin's). fl. slightly fragrant; perianth 1 1/2in. to 1 3/4in. long, the tube greenish, cylindrical, twice as long as the oblong, spreading segments, which are pure white on the face, but marked with a distinct, green keel down the back; umbels two or three, each one to three-flowered. January. l. about six to a cluster, overtopping the flowers, erect, glabrous, obtuse, 3in. to 4in. long. Chilian Andes, 1873. SYN. Milla Leichtlinii (B. M. 6236).
T. porrifolia (Leek-leaved).* fl., perianth whitish-violet, funnel-shaped, nine to ten lines long, the segments lanceolate-spathulate, nearly thrice the length of the tube; spathe valves two, connate at base; umbels four to six-flowered; scape equalling the leaves. July. l. four or five, 6in. to 8in. long, one to two lines broad. Bulb ovoid, eight to twelve lines thick. Chili, 1868. SYN. Milla porrifolia (B. M. 5977; G. C. 1868, p. 990.) T. uniflora (one-flowered).* Spring Starflower. fl., perianth pale lilac, 3/4in. to 1 1/2in. long, the segments lanceolate-spathulate, slightly spreading; pedicels 1in. to 2in. long; spathe valves two, 3/4in. to 1 1/4in. long; scapes one or (in gardens) very rarely two-flowered. April and May. l. six to nine, 6in. to 12in. long, 1/8in. to 1/4in. broad. Bulb proliferous. Buenos Ayres, 1836. See Fig. 106. (B. R. 1921.) SYN. Milla uniflora (B. M. 3327).
T. u. conspicua (conspicuous). fl. broadly imbricated when expanded, the segments oblong-spathulate; pedicels often longer than in the type. SYN. T. conspicua (Ref. B. 43).