Near the town of Jolon the blue purpureum is found under the Blue Oaks Quercus douglasii with the mushrooms. Click to enlarge Beatrice F. Howitt California Academy of Sciences Click to enlarge Gladys Lucille Smith California Academy of Sciences P urple amole is a bulb-forming perennial lily.
Brown scales cover the outside of the white root.
A rosette of long, narrow wavy-edged leaves grows at the base. A stout, leafless stalk sprouts up long after the leaves. The yellow-topped stamens stick way out above the flowers. Unlike the more common white-flowered soap plant, which is vespertine , that is, opening in the evening, the flowers of the purple amole open during the day. Crushed material of the plant was used in streams to stupefy fish.