Sisyrinchium

''Sisyrinchium'' is a large genus of annual to perennial flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. Native to the New World, the species are known as blue-eyed grasses. Although they are not true grasses (Poaceae), they are monocots.

Several species in the eastern United States are threatened or endangered. This may be due to niche species emerging from their unique tendency toward rapid speciation which helps them adapt to specialized arenic (sandy) habitats.

Description

These are not true grasses, but many species have the general appearance of grasses, as they are low-growing plants with long, thin leaves. They often grow on grasslands. Many species resemble irises, to which they are more closely related. Most species grow as perennial plants, from a rhizome, though some are short-lived (e.g. '' Sisyrinchium striatum)'', and some are annuals (e.g. '' Sisyrinchium iridifolium'').

The flowers are relatively simple and often grow in clusters.

Many species, particularly the South American ones, are not blue, despite the common name. The genus includes species with blue, white, yellow, and purple petals, often with a contrasting centre. Of the species in the United States, the Western Blue-eyed Grass ''(Sisyrinchium bellum'') is sometimes found with white flowers, while the California Golden-eyed Grass (''Sisyrinchium californicum'') has yellow flowers.

Taxonomy

The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, based on the species '' Sisyrinchium bermudiana'' (commonly called ''Bermudiana''). The taxonomy of this genus is rather perplexing and confusing, as several of these species, such as '' Sisyrinchium angustifolium'', form complexes with many variants named as species. More genetic research and cladistic analysis need to be performed to sort out the relationships between the species. Some species, notably '' Sisyrinchium douglasii'', have been transferred to the separate genus '' Olsynium''.

The greatest diversity for the genus is found in South America.

Approximately one third of the species in the genus have oil producing hairs called elaiophores to attract oil-bees. Nearly all these species are native to South America.

Etymology

''Sisyrinchíon'' is the Greek word, recorded by Pliny and Theophrastus, for the Barbary nut iris (''Iris'' or ''Moraea sisyrinchium''), and refers to the way the corm tunics resemble a shaggy goat's-hair coat, ''sisýra''. Authors as early as 1666Ambrosini, Giacinto. 1666. Phytologiae give the dubious etymology of Latin ''sūs'' "pig" and Greek ''rhynchos'' "nose", referring to pigs grubbing the roots. As Goldblatt and Manning explain, "the reason for applying the name to a genus of New World Iridaceae was apparently arbitrary."

Selected species

There are up to 200 species,Search for "Sisyrinchium", including:

Gallery

Image:Sisyrinchium-campestre.jpg, Prairie blue-eyed grass ('' Sisyrinchium campestre'')
Image:Sisyrinchium-montanum.jpg, Strict blue-eyed grass ('' Sisyrinchium montanum var. montanum'')
Image:Sisyrinchium-mucronatum.jpg, Needletip blue-eyed grass ('' Sisyrinchium mucronatum'')
Image:Sisyrinchium-fuscatum.jpg, Coastalplain blue-eyed grass ('' Sisyrinchium fuscatum'')

References

*Rudall, P. J., A. Y. Kenton, and T. J. Lawrence. 1986 - An anatomical and chromosomal investigation of ''Sisyrinchium'' and allied genera. Bot. Gaz. 147: 466–477 Ajilvsgi, Geyata. 1984 - Wildflowers of Texas. Library of Congress: 84-50025

External links

Flora of North America



{{Taxonbar, from=Q2357709

Iridaceae genera
Flora of the Americas