Genus: Tofieldia for English botanist Thomas Tofield (1730 - 1779)
Species: glutinosa referring to sticky glands on upper part of the stem
aka Western False Asphodel, Sticky False Asphodel, Sticky Tofieldia, Triantha occidentalis. The stem reaches 12" - 16" (30 - 40 cm) with a glandular sticky surface on the upper portion thought to keep ants from reaching the flowers. The greenish-white flowers, about a 0.25" long, form clusters on end of the stem. Basal leaves are grasslike and shorter than the stem. It is the flower of the Elysian Fields in Homer's Odyssey. Usually found above 5000' elevation with Mountain Meadows an obvious exception. (ref. Biek, Clark, Pojar)
