Blue Dicks are a perennial herb in the asparagus family.
The flowers range from a a deep purple to pale blue-violet, and even white occasionally.
The leafless flowering stalk (scape) typically reaches 20 to 60 cm (8 to 24 inches) in height.
Each individual flower is tube-shaped with six lobes. Inside the tube, there are three stamens and three "staminodia" (sterile stamens) that look like small white wings or petals.
Blue Dicks are a vital early-spring nectar source for various butterflies, including the Checkerspot, and are frequently visited by native bees.
Blue Dicks stems are slender but surprisingly tough, allowing them to sway in the wind without snapping.
For thousands of years, people have eaten Blue Dicks corms (the stem base underground). These can be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted, and are said to have a nutty, potato-like flavor. But don't sample them at Point Lobos! Everything in the Reserve is protected by law to preserve the beautiful natural environment.
Photo by Don Blohowiak
Photo by Don Blohowiak