Classification Hierarchy
Kingdom Plantae
Subkingdom Tracheophyta
Superdivision Spermatophyta
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Liliopsida
Subclass Liliidae
Order Liliales
Iridaceae Iridaceae
Sisyrinchium Sisyrinchium
Species Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Narrowleaf Blue-eyed grass

Date: 2010. Location: (map)

USDA Plant Profile Flora of N. America

Scientific Name: Sisyrinchium angustifolium (Sisyrinchium - a plant name used by Theophrastus; see also ref #2 below; angustifolium - [L] narrowleaf)

Common Name: Narrowleaf Blue-eyed grass [note that this plant is a member of the iris and not the grass family]

Origin: Native

Notes: Two species of Sisyrinchium have been reported in Iowa, S. angustifolium which is scarce in Iowa and usually found in wet soils and S. campestre which prefers dry open soils, and is common in our area .

Additional references: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Field Marks for Identification:

Stems: Stems branched with one or two nodes.

Flowers: April. Tepals blue-violet; inflorescence, several six-tepaled flowers on pedicels emerge from a spathe which is terminal or axial on a flattened stem, the green outer bract of the spathe is barely longer (2-9 mm) than the shorter bract and the flowers are often held above the tallest bract, margins of the spathe are fused at the base (4-6 mm); fruit, capsules 4-7 mm high.

Leaves: basal, flat, linear 1-5 dm long, 1-3 mm wide, usually shorter than the flat flower bearing stems.

Glossaries of botanical terms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

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