Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium bellum

Blue-eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium bellum

In Orange County in this family, there is only one native species and seven scarce exotics that are escapees from cultivation. Plants in Iridaceae are perennial herbs with parallel-veined, narrow, sheathing leaves folded lengthwise to enclose the next one within (equitant=leaves overlapping in two ranks and usually folded along midrib; Clarke). The fruit is a triangular dry capsule that opens at maturity to disperse the seeds.

Blue-eyed grass is a fairly common annual or short-lived perennial on seasonally wet clay, coastal sage scrub, and especially moist grasslands ( (UCI Ecological Preserve, UCI Freshwater Marsh, Fairview Park, Bommer Canyon, Crystal Cove State Park, Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park (Roberts). The plants grow in colonies, propagated from rhizomes (below-ground clone forming stems) or seed. Flowering Feb - May. Spanish Americans brewed tea from the roots for use in reducing fever (Nancy Dale).

Back to Iridaceae of Orange County, California
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Flat grass-like leaves originate from the plant base and alternately along the stem. Flowers in umbel-like cymes at the top of 16 in. branching stems. © Joan Avise	Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium bellum In Orange County in this family, there is only one native species and seven scarce exotics that are escapees from cultivation. Plants in Iridaceae are perennial herbs with parallel-veined, narrow, sheathing leaves folded lengthwise to enclose the next one within (equitant=leaves overlapping in two ranks and usually folded along midrib; Clarke). The fruit is a triangular dry capsule that opens at maturity to disperse the seeds. Blue-eyed grass is a fairly common annual or short-lived perennial on seasonally wet clay, coastal sage scrub, and especially moist grasslands ( (UCI Ecological Preserve, UCI Freshwater Marsh, Fairview Park, Bommer Canyon, Crystal Cove State Park, Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park (Roberts). The plants grow in colonies, propagated from rhizomes (below-ground clone forming stems) or seed. Flowering Feb - May. Spanish Americans brewed tea from the roots for use in reducing fever (Nancy Dale). Back to Iridaceae of Orange County, California Back to Monocots of Orange County, California Back to Natural History of Orange County, California
Crystal Cove State Beach, Laguna Beach, CA. 3-21-09. © Joan Avise	Six perianth parts, blue-purple to violet or pale blue, occasionally white, tips truncated or notched with a small point, joined at the base forming a tube with a yellow center. Highly variable; generally self-sterile (JM2). Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano, CA. 5-03-09. © Joan Avise
The ovary is inferior, 3 united carpels form 1 pistil. Six perianth parts fused at the base; only 3 stamens. Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Irvine, CA. 6-4-11. © Joan Avise	Bommer Cayon (Ridge + East Fork trails), Irvine, CA. 4-23-11. © Joan Avise
Bommer Canyon (Ridge + E. Fork trails), Irvine, CA. 4-23-11. © Joan Avise	The fruit is a triangular capsule that opens when mature to release the seeds. UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-28-12. © Joan Avise
The fruit is a triangular capsule that opens when mature to release the seeds. UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-28-12. © Joan Avise