''Sisyrinchium'' is a large
genus of
annual to
perennial flowering plant in the family
Iridaceae. Native to the
New World, the species are known as blue-eyed grasses and, though not true grasses and in varieties with flower colors other than blue, are
monocots.
Several species in the eastern
United States are threatened or endangered.
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
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
, 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
''Olsynium'' is a genus of summer- dormant rhizomatous perennial flowering plants in the iris family Iridaceae, native to sunny hillsides in South America and western North America. Douglas, G.W., Meidinger, D. & Penny, J.L. (2002). Rare Native ...
''.
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 1666
[Ambrosini, 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
''Sisyrinchium campestre'', the prairie blue-eyed grass or white-eyed grass, is a small herbaceous perennial plant in the iris family, native to prairie and meadow in the central United States and in extreme southern Manitoba.
Prairie blue-ey ...
'')
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
''Sisyrinchium'' is a large genus of annual to perennial flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. Native to the New World, the species are known as blue-eyed grasses and, though not true grasses and in varieties with flower colors other than bl ...
'')
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