Sisyrinchium pruinosum explained

Sisyrinchium pruinosum, the dotted blue-eyed grass, is a perennial plant in the family Iridaceae, native to the south-central United States. There are also reports of the plant in California, but these appear to represent naturalizations.^[1] 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.^[3]
• Flower: up to 1.125 in.(3 cm) across, violet-purple to purple-blue, rarely white, the 6 segments all appearing petal-like, wide-spreading. Flowers usually 1 or a few in cluster at tip of stem, closing during overcast weather.^[3]
• 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

Notes and References

1. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Sisyrinchium%20pruinosum.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
2. Web site: United States Department of Agriculture plants profile: Sisyrinchium langloisii.
3. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101918 Flora of North America, Sisyrinchium pruinosum E. P. Bicknell, 1901.
4. Ajilvsgi, Geyata. 1984 - Wildflowers of Texas. Library of Congress: 84-50025