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

Date: April 27, 2010. Location: F.W. Kent Park (map)

USDA Plant Profile Flora of N. America

Scientific Name: Sisyrinchium campestre (Sisyrinchium - a plant name used by Theophrastus; see also ref #2 below; campestre - of the plains)

Common Name: 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. campestre which prefers dry open soils, is common in our area and S. angustifolium which is scarce in Iowa and usually found in wet soils.

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

Field Marks for Identification:

Flowers: April. Tepals light blue to white; inflorescence, several six-tepaled flowers on pedicels emerge from a spathe which is terminal on a flattened stem, the green outer bract of the spathe, with margins open to base, is about 1/3 longer than the inner bract and tends to extend higher than the uppermost flower; fruit, capsules 2-4 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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