Sisyrinchium pruinosum
| Dotted Blue-eyed Grass | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Subfamily: | Iridoideae |
| Tribe: | Sisyrinchieae |
| Genus: | Sisyrinchium |
| Species: | S. pruinosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Sisyrinchium pruinosum E.P. Bicknell | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Sisyrinchium pruinosum, the Dotted Blue-eyed Grass, is a perennial plant in the Iridaceae family, native to the south-central United States. It is sometimes considered to be a synonym of Sisyrinchium langloisii.[2]
Description
- Plant: Upright or scrawling, clumped, delicate, smooth perennial 3.5-12 in.(9–30 cm) high; stems slender, usually several, unbranched, flattened, not conspicuously winged as in some species.
- Flower: up to 1.125 in.(3 cm) across, violet-purple to purple-blue, rarely white, the 6 segments all appearing petallike, wide-spreading. Flowers usually 1 or a few in cluster at tip of stem, closing during overcast weather.
- Leaves: up to 9 in.(22.5 cm) long, .125 in.(3 mm) wide, basal, slender, grasslike and flattened like flower stem
- Habitat: Clay or sandy clay in open prairies, pastures, meadows, open woodlands and oak uplands.
These plants are usually found in abundance and can be spectacular on warm, sunny days where they cover entire pastures with almost solid sheets of blue. They are very beautiful used as borders in the wildflower garden. Sisyrinchium species hybridize readily, often making species identification quite difficult.
References
- ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ↑ "USDA PLANTS: Sisyrinchium langloisii".
- Ajilvsgi, Geyata. 1984 - Wildflowers of Texas. Library of Congress: 84-50025