Olsynium douglasii

Olsynium douglasii (syn. Sisyrinchium douglasii, Sisyrinchium grandiflorum) is a flowering plant, commonly known as grasswidows,^[1] in the genus Olsynium, native to western North America from southern British Columbia south to northern California, and east to northwest Utah. It is the only species in the genus Olsynium in North America, the remaining 11 species being from South America. It was formerly treated in the related genus Sisyrinchium.

It is a perennial herbaceous bulbiferous plant growing to 10-40 cm tall. The leaves are slender linear, 10-30 cm long and 1.5-3 mm broad. The flowers are bell-shaped, 15-25 mm long, with six purple tepals.

There are two varieties:

• Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii. Coastal western North America. Flower filaments with a narrow base.
• Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum. Interior western North America. Flower filaments with an inflated base.

References

• Flora of North America — map
• Plants of British Columbia
• Jepson Flora Project: Sisyrinchium douglasii